Aussie Liberals embroiled in Key campaign

John Key needs to explain why Australia’s Liberal Party is interfering in New Zealand domestic politics and is encouraging Kiwi voters across the ditch to vote for National just days out from the election, Labour’s campaign spokesperson Annette King says.

“An email, signed by Brian Loughnane - Federal Director of the Liberal Party and the husband of Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s chief of staff - uses the Liberal Party letterhead and is authorised jointly by both the Liberal and New Zealand National parties.

“As part of an online campaign to encourage Australians with New Zealand friends living and working in Australia to vote National, the email shows co-ordination at the highest levels between the two parties.

“John Key has decried ‘foreign influence on the election campaign’. Now he’s been caught out using the mailing lists of overseas political parties to turn out votes for National

“There’s a big difference between having an overseas politician speak to your party, which both Labour and National have done, and having access to a foreign party’s resources and campaign material.

“This has already raised eyebrows across the Tasman.

“The Prime Minister needs to answer some serious questions, not the least being - will this be declared as election expense, and what other foreign political parties are doing National’s work?”

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