ACT Labor has launched an advertisement claiming that voting for independents could pave the way for a Canberra Liberals government.

The advertisement has sparked a strong backlash from independents: the Strong Independents call the advertisement offensive and denounce Labor’s misogyny; Independents for Canberra accuse Labor of resorting to scare tactics; and the Belco Party state they are more like traditional Labor than the current party is.

The advertisement aired during this weekend’s grand final, and was also shared on Chief Minister Andrew Barr’s Instagram account. It stated:

“The [only way the] Canberra Liberals have ever got into power is with the help of independents. [Belco Party convenor Bill Stefaniak] straight up admits he’ll support the Canberra Liberals into government. [Strong Independents candidate Peter Strong AM] says it would be odd to support a Labor-led government, and [Independents for Canberra candidate Dr Vanessa Picker] says she would not support a Barr Labor Government.

“Your vote could accidentally put Liberals into power and end progressive reforms like voluntary assisted dying and access to abortion. Don’t make your vote make you blue.”

Peter Strong said: “We know that the Chief Minister and his retinue are very worried by the independents, so worried that they have descended from the gutter to the sewer. He wants to damage the reputation of the honest independents in our territory.”

Ann Bray, his fellow candidate, was also scathing in her response.

“It is offensive and unacceptable for Labor to use its muscle and money to attack women and others with inuendo that protects them from legal action, but is all the same immoral and unethical,” Ms Bray said.

“Do we want this party to continue unchecked? We don’t want the Libs with their right-wing policies, and we don’t want Labor with their right-wing behaviours. We want independents who have experience, who know what is right and have proven throughout their long careers to be transparent and ethical.”

The Strong Independents reaffirmed their commitment to access to abortion (“women having control over their own health and bodies”) and voluntary assisted dying (“dignity in death, not obscene pain and suffering”). They denounced Labor’s claim that such policies could be at risk if independents held the balance of power.

“These beliefs will never be compromised,” Mr Strong said. “The ACT has led the way on these issues for a long time, and it’s only some in the Libs and those in the far right of Labor that oppose these human rights.”

Thomas Emerson, leader of the Independents for Canberra, also criticised Labor’s tactics.

“I can barely believe what I’ve just seen on the Chief Minister’s Instagram account,” Mr Emerson said. “If you thought the major parties were worried about the independent movement, now you can be sure of it, because ACT Labor has put out an attack ad claiming that voting for an independent could risk removing your access to abortion and voluntary assisted dying.

“Which is strange, because on the homepage of our website we state that we all support people’s access to abortion and voluntary assisted dying. And the Independents for Canberra candidate they’ve singled out is Dr Vanessa Picker, who’s a women’s rights activist.”

In fact, Mr Emerson said, all Independents for Canberra candidates supported progressive VAD laws and safe access to abortion. Dr Picker has said she would be open to supporting a new Labor government with a new leader. ACT Labor, Mr Emerson said, knew those facts.

Mr Emerson added: “Removing people’s access to safe abortion and voluntary-assisted dying are examples of policy positions that our community would find objectionable.”

The Strong Independents accused ACT Labor, “a misogynist malicious organisation that supports male muscle before women”, of prioritising their alliance with the male-dominated CFMEU over women’s issues and other unions, thereby neglecting the needs of women and vulnerable groups in the ACT.

“Here is a government that turns its back on the health unions and the education unions, and instead stands up and praises the CFMEU,” Mr Strong said. “The CFMEU is dominated by men; the health and education sectors have women as their mainstay. Why do government ministers ignore the needs of women? We hear words, but see little action. The Chief Minister and other ministers – including the leaders of the Greens – stand with the union that has a history of misogyny, a union that gives all other unions a bad name, a union that all other Labor Party branches have condemned and distanced.

“Yet here we are – a jurisdiction apparently run on behalf of a failed union by a failed Chief Minister… The ALP members must be shamefaced and distraught by their party’s focus on a male-dominated union with dubious connections, to the detriment of women and other unions.”

Ms Bray criticised Labor’s record on domestic violence.

“The ACT is known as the worst jurisdiction in dealing with domestic violence,” she said. “It lets perpetrators stay free, provides poor support in housing, and rarely takes immediate action for the victims – for the women and children. Why does the government disregard the needs of women?”

The Strong Independents also accused Labor of using its resources to silence their voices and of avoiding fair debate.

“Labor is aware independents cannot match the funds needed to get ads onto TV, and will often find it hard to get a voice,” Mr Strong said. “The Chief Minister knows this, so finds them an easy target. He also refuses to go on panels where I or Ann Bray will be, as he knows that we have gumption and know how to debate and not be meek. We would keep him to task and call out his government failings – and there are many.

“Mr Barr obviously does not want to debate smart experienced independent women: when confronted with that scenario, he flees to his bunker. The Chief Minister need not be scared of Ann Bray. Her last job was as a senior diplomat in Washington DC; she would be professional and not bully him, but would simply present facts using science and logic. Ann would firmly and politely highlight when he is wrong. Ann would also run ethical rings around any member of this government. That is why Mr Barr is scared and resorting to deception.”

Mr Emerson echoed these sentiments: “This is what people tell us they’re sick of from the major parties. They’re sick of being lied to and sick of being treated like idiots. I’m told this ad ran during the footy last night, so they’re spending a lot of money on it. Why can’t we just battle it out in an open contest of ideas rather than resorting to fear-based campaigning in order to hold onto power?”

On their website, Independents for Canberra clarified their position: “We have no allegiance to any other party. Our promise is to support the best ideas, regardless of where they come from. We plan to hold the government accountable by advocating for change from the crossbench, where our voice can be most effective. If we are in a position to determine who forms government, we will negotiate in good faith and consider who won the most seats, who will pledge support for our policy commitments and whether the prospective governing party has any policies that our community finds objectionable.”

Belco Party

Bill Stefaniak, Belco Party founder and candidate for Ginninderra, thanked the Labor party for their negative ads that said a vote for independents could put the Liberals into government.

“I thought, after 23 years, that was actually a good idea,” Mr Stefaniak said. “Even many Labor voters I speak to think it’s time for a change for their own party’s sake.”

The Belco Party is standing five candidates, many of whom are ex-Labor voters or members, Mr Stefaniak pointed out. In Yerrabi, Gregory Burke is an ex-Labor jockey from Cessnock and schoolmate of former federal Labor minister Joel Fitzgibbon, while ex-police sergeant Jason Taylor is a former Democrat. In Ginninderra, Angela Lount was a Labor voter until 2020, and Alan Tutt a Labor man until 2012. Mr Stefaniak was a former Canberra Liberals politician, but notes that he voted 1 for his rugby mate, the late Labor MLA Jayson Hinder, in 2012, and contributed to his campaign.

“The Belco Party encourages former Labor voters who think their current party is no longer the old Labor party of Jon Stanhope, Rosemary Follett, Ted Quinlan, and Bob Hawke to park their vote with us,” Mr Stefaniak said. “We share similar values.

“Yes, we will put in a Liberal government if they have enough seats. After 23 years, a change is healthy for democracy, and we will keep them up to the task, like any good independents should, and indeed did in the first four Assemblies (1989 to 2001).

“I don’t know why the other independents are so coy about it. Indeed, it worries me that some of them may put the current government back in.

“Andrew Barr’s government hasn’t been a good one, and getting into bed with the Greens has led to some disastrous policies.

“The Belco Party would encourage Canberrans to change the government, and the best way to do that is to not put any numbers in the Greens and Labor boxes. That way, you have to have a change.

“I don’t have a crystal ball, and the election could possibly even end up with something like eight Labor, eight Liberals, eight independents, and one green (Shane Rattenbury). We could do a lot worse. If that were to occur, we could even end up with an independent Chief Minister.

“More likely, though, we may end up with say 10 Liberals, 10 Labor, maybe two Greens and three independents. In which case, if one or more of those three independents are Belco Party candidates, we will vote for a Liberal Chief Minister, and then endeavour to keep them honest and on track to bring good government to the territory.”

ACT Labor was asked for comment.