RE-ELECTED MLC for Rosevears Kerry Finch has slammed the Liberal Party for a disgraceful smear campaign and expects members will be asking some hard questions of their state director Sam McQuestin.
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The Independent Mr Finch had a resounding win over the Liberals' Don Morris at Saturday's election, leading polling by almost 4000 votes by the close of counting on the night.
Relaxing at his West Launceston home with his family, including dog Jack and taking a series of media calls yesterday, Mr Finch said many of the Liberal members he knew were disgusted with the tactics used in the campaign and were going to take the matter up with the party.
He said there was ``absolutely'' a backlash from Liberal voters at the ballot box.
``When the campaign was taken, on television particularly, to try to suggest that I'm lying, that's what hurts the most, that I was lying about being an independent and that I had another agenda, well I took great exception to that,'' Mr Finch said.
``And then of course, when the robocalls kicked in, well my phone ran hot for four hours.''
Mr Finch went on to say, ``I'm sure that Sam McQuestin would have heard loud and strong, it's not the way Tasmanians want our politics for the upper house to go, particularly this type of campaigning.''
``The big investigation is going to be Sam McQuestin _ how is he going to hold his job?''
Mr Finch said there would be a number of issues he would address in this next term, including looking at a school for Legana as well as supporting other schools in the area, the Beaconsfield District Health Service, road safety and the Frankford Highway.
Now in his mid-60s Mr Finch said he would see out the full six-year term by sticking to his exercise and diet regime.
Tasmanian Liberal director Sam McQuestin stood behind the party's campaign, saying it was designed to highlight Mr Finch's voting history.
``We were successful in pointing that out, although ultimately unsuccessful in the end,'' Mr McQuestin said.
``To be honest, I'm not sure that they [robocalls and television advertisements] had an impact on the overall result one way or the other.''