NSW LABOR CALLS ON PREMIER TO EXPEL FACEBOOK TROLLS AND LIFT ONLINE STANDARDS

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The NSW Labor Opposition has called on the Premier to guarantee that no other Coalition campaign teams, staffers or MPs had engaged in Facebook trolling during the recent election campaign.

It comes as NSW Labor throws its support behind a call by an outgoing Liberal parliamentarian to expel anyone who knew about the Port Stephens’ Liberal Facebook trolling.

Departing Liberal Upper House member Scot MacDonald said this week that the tactic showed “poor judgement” and that anyone linked to the trolling scandal during the recent state election should be “kicked out of the party”.

On Monday the Premier said she wanted to improve the conduct of parliamentarians in the wake of last week’s election.

NSW Interim Opposition Leader, Penny Sharpe, and Labor MP for Port Stephens, Kate Washington, supported Mr MacDonald’s public statements and urged the Premier to be true to her stated commitment.

Senior Liberal Upper House member, Catherine Cusack, became embroiled in the controversy in February after Ms Washington asked Facebook and the Clerk of Parliament to investigate fake Facebook accounts being operated by one of Ms Cusack’s staff members.

Ms Sharpe also called on Premier Gladys Berejiklian to guarantee that no other Coalition campaign teams, staffers or MPs had engaged in the behaviour.

“Even people from her own side see that there is no room for online trolling and election manipulation from fake Facebook accounts political campaigns,” Ms Sharpe said.

“Catherine Cusack may well be a Minister in an incoming government – the Premier has to make it clear to the community that she doesn’t condone this sort of behaviour in her party room, or in her new cabinet.”