Marginal seats’ voters bombarded by annoying last-minute text messages by both major parties in Victorian election, from ‘Ditch Dan’ to ‘Don’t risk Guy’
- ‘Ditch Dan’ texts sent to Victorian voters as Liberal Party made last election bid
- Voters encouraged to vote against Labor premier Daniel Andrews on Saturday
- Labor Party sent their own texts in attempt to sway voters to vote for premier
Victorian voters have been bombarded with texts by both political parties at the last minute as polling draws to a close in the state election.
Residents were sent ‘Ditch Dan’ texts in marginal seats like Caulfield, in south-east Melbourne, telling them to vote against Premier Daniel Andrews on Saturday.
‘Don’t let him get away with it,’ the text reads. ‘The only way to get rid of Daniel Andrews is to vote Liberal today.’
State director of the Victorian division of the Liberal Party Charles ‘Sam’ McQuestin authorised the messages.
Victorian voters have been bombarded with texts by both political parties at the last minute as polling draws to a close in the state election
Both Labor and the Liberals have sent unsolicited text messages to voters (pictured, Opposition leader Matthew Guy)
The Liberal Party sent voters a text telling them to ‘Ditch Dan’ on polling day on Saturday
Caulfield is currently held by Liberal incumbent David Southwick and being contested by independent candidate Nomi Kaltmann and Labor’s Lior Harel.
Labor has also sent its own texts to residents encouraging them to vote against Opposition leader Matthew Guy.
‘Don’t risk Matthew Guy, the Liberals’ Cuts Guy,’ the text reads.
‘He was sacked. He’ll cut the Big Build… he cut health, waged war on ambos and closed TAFEs.’
Some residents claimed to have received a ‘personal’ message from the premier himself.
‘It’s Dan Andrews here,’ the text read. ‘Matthew Guy has a plan for cuts. I need your help to stop the Liberals. I’ve recorded a video message for you.’
The text messages from both parties appear to have hit a nerve with voters lashing out at the unsolicited messages.
‘I am so sick and tired of unsolicited texts, no matter who they are from, and my number is on the do-not-call register. I received no texts from the independent, so I have decided to vote for her,’ one person said.
Labor has also sent its own texts to residents encouraging them to vote against Opposition leader Matthew Guy
It is the latest round of text messages sent by the Labor Party after Mr Andrews sent messages in the lead-up to the election spruiking plans to revive the State Electricity Commission.
The SEC was established in 1918, with the State Government appointed ‘Electricity Commissioners’ responsible for generation and distribution of electricity throughout the state.
It was dumped in the 1990s by Liberal premier Jeff Kennett in a decision Mr Andrews said had failed consumers and driven up power bills.
‘Labor will bring back the SEC with government-owned renewable energy – driving down power bills and creating thousands of jobs,’ the text message sent out to voters read on November 14.
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