Fed: Nationals hit back at independents
CANBERRA, Aug 22 AAP - The Nationals hit back at two independents today, accusing themof being habitual fibbers as a row between them escalated.
Independents Peter Andren and Tony Windsor are demanding a public apology after NationalParty MP De-Anne Kelly accused them in parliament of supporting former Iraqi dictatorSaddam Hussein.
During a debate this week on the sale of the remaining share of Telstra, Ms Kelly saidit would be used against them at the next federal election.
Ms Kelly is in favour of full privatisation of the telco while the independents are not.
Both men are now demanding a retraction and apology from Ms Kelly saying the claimswere untrue and a slur.
But a spokesman for National Party leader John Anderson said party members would notbe lectured on honesty.
"The National Party and its members will not be lectured by the likes of Mr Windsorand Mr Andren on honesty," the spokesman said.
"Both men are habitual fibbers as was proven conclusively by a press release issuedyesterday where they claimed the National party had collectively dreamed up Kay Hull'sTelstra referendum proposal."
Ms Hull, a National Party MP, abstained from a vote in the lower house this week onthe full privatisation of Telstra and moved that the matter be put to a referendum.
It was claimed it was a political stunt to show the Nationals were standing up to theircoalition partners.
"The claim was ridiculously untrue yet both men put their name to a press release withoutchecking the truth of the matter," Mr Anderson's spokesman said.
Mr Windsor said anyone who had followed his speeches in the parliament would know hehad been opposed to Saddam Hussein.
"To suggest that I've been a supporter of Saddam Hussein is not only a breach of thetruth, it's quite dishonest and impugns my credibility," he told ABC radio.
Mr Andren said he and Mr Windsor had written to Ms Kelly seeking a retraction and apology.
"Politically I think my electorate understands my position very clearly on this issuebut it could be damaging in the context of an emotionally charged election campaign,"
Mr Andren said.
AAP sal/sb/cjm/de
KEYWORD: KELLY LEAD
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