FRYDENBERG TO REMOVE SCOUTS FROM CAMPAIGN MATERIAL
0Frydenberg to remove Scouts from campaign material
By Rachael Dexter April 21. 2022 — 6.54pm Save Log in. register or subscribe to save articles for later. Share Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text size Photos of federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg posing with young Scouts will be removed from promotional material in the highly contested seat of Kooyong in Melbourne’s inner east after complaints about children’s images being used for political purposes. It comes as a third charity endorsed Frydenberg after the regulator this week warned such groups to stay away from political campaigning. Frydenberg with Scouts members in his campaign material. Sources from the Kew scouting community. who requested anonymity. said parents were not consulted about the use of the 2016 photo on signage which appears across the electorate. A spokesman for Frydenberg’s office said the photo was approved for political use by the Scout leader at the time. but it has since received a request for the images to be taken down. Scouts Victoria executive manager Jon McGregor did not respond to questions about whether parents were consulted over the use of the photograph. but said it was common for pictures to be taken with politicians from different parties. “Engagement with politicians is used as an educational tool to help young people understand the political process and for them to put forward their own views about what is important for young people.” he said. Kirsten Pilatti. Breast Cancer Network Australia CEO speaking about Josh Frydenberg last month.Credit:Sky News The Treasurer’s campaign tactics have been under scrutiny this week after both Guide Dogs Victoria and Down Syndrome charity Inclusion Foundation issued clarifications following endorsements from their executives. The Breast Cancer Network Australia on Thursday emerged as the third charity to have publicly backed Frydenberg. with chief executive Kirsten Pilatti telling Sky News. Frydenberg had “always been at the end of the phone”. “Whether it’s policy questions. questions on superannuation and access for cancer patients. or just about local issues.” she said. “We’ve had such a wonderful relationship with Josh.” The interview was broadcast three weeks ago. but the footage was circulated on social media by an anti Frydenberg account after controversy surrounding the appearance of Guide Dogs Victoria chief executive Karen Hayes in election material. Guide Dogs Victoria chief executive Karen Hayes appered on Liberal Party pamphlets endorsing Josh Frydenberg. Under Australian law. charities risk losing their not for profit registration if one of their stated purposes is to “promote or oppose a political party or a candidate for political office”. On Wednesday. Guide Dogs Victoria launched an internal investigation into why Hayes appeared in the pamphlets circulated to residents of Kooyong stating her reasons for supporting Frydenberg alongside the name of the well known charity. The board said it had no knowledge of the material before it was circulated and did not endorse it. On Thursday it would not be drawn on the timeline of the investigation. nor on who would be conducting it. The investigation announcement followed a statement by Inclusion Foundation that distanced itself from Frydenberg campaign material featuring its founder Cate Sayers and using the charity’s name. A spokesperson for the foundation said the views of Sayers were hers alone. despite multiple mentions of the charity on the pamphlet. Although Guide Dogs Victoria and Inclusion Foundation distanced themselves from the flyers. the Breast Cancer Network Australia did not signal any concern about its chief executive endorsing Frydenberg on TV. A spokeswoman on Thursday said the charity “does not endorse individual politicians or political parties”. It’s estimated Frydenberg’s camp is spending around $2 million on the campaign in Kooyong. which takes in Kew. Hawthorn. Balwyn North and Glen Iris. to try to fend off the...
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