That prompted an angry response from Nationals deputy leader Steph Ryan, who said the National Party was justifiably highlighting on the websites Ms Cupper’s political record.
“There’s nothing low about what we did Wendy. We took a website to tell the people of Mildura about the issues Ali and Fiona were selling in Melbourne,” Ms Ryan wrote.
Ms Lovell responded by saying: “Purchasing her domain name and running a website in her name was low Steph.”
Other Liberal MPs joked about Ms Cupper’s defection, which is seen as a boost to the Nationals’ chances of regaining the regional seat. Health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier said the alliance “didn’t last long” while upper house MP Bernie Finn said his “heart bleeds” for Ms Patten.
Mildura is held by Ms Cupper on a margin of 0.34 per cent. The seat was held by the Nationals from 2006 to 2018, by an independent between 1996-2006, and before that conservative parties dating back to 1955.
The website taken out by the Nationals, which prompted the reaction from the Reason staffer, stated Ms Cupper had “a history of changing her political affiliations” – a reference to her previous run as a Labor candidate – and reminds readers that the Reason Party used to be called the Sex Party. “Is the Reason Party really what Mildura needs?” the website asks.
Nationals deputy leader Steph Ryan.Credit:Eddie Jim
In a statement, Ms Cupper said her constituents did not want “games” or “distractions”.
“The coalition with the Reason Party was, to my mind, a way of increasing the influence of the Mildura electorate in the upper house, particularly on regional rate reform, which is of critical importance to our community,” she said.
The disclosure of Coalition WhatsApp messages came as the Liberal Party cancelled its long-awaited state conference that was due to be held on Saturday, June 5. The conference of party delegates, where president Robert Clark will face a leadership challenge, has been rescheduled for July 24-25 following Victoria’s lockdown.
