A MOCK superhero with ties to a right-wing group entered the Indi election contest in Wangaratta on Tuesday.
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Captain GetUp, the brainchild of Advance Australia, made a video of himself outside member for Indi Cathy McGowan's office and then visited a prepolling station.
Advance Australia national director Gerard Benedet said the visit was aimed at highlighting alleged ties between Ms McGowan and her preferred successor Helen Haines and GetUp, a left-wing political group.
Mr Benedet said Advance Australia had surveyed Indi voters in January and February with a focus on Ms McGowan's decision to support medivac legislation covering offshore detainees.
He also claimed Voices 4 Indi, which has backed Ms McGowan and Dr Haines, was involved with GetUp.
Dr Haines told The Border Mail election forum she had no link to GetUp and Ms McGowan said yesterday "she had nothing to do with GetUp" and "stunts" such as Captain GetUp don't "help people make a decision".
Voices 4 Indi spokeswoman Alana Johnson said "since the inception of Voices 4 Indi in 2012 we have never had any connection to GetUp whatsoever".
Captain GetUp's appearance saw past independent political candidate Tammy Atkins tweet Liberal Indi candidate Steve Martin "thought flying in this cartoon character that's officially political material authorised by hard right group Advanced (sic) Australia was a good idea".
Mr Martin said he had "no connection to Advance Australia and just like GetUp and other organisations they're free to advocate for whatever issues they're focussed on".
Mr Benedet said he had never spoken to Mr Martin and had "no idea who he is".
"The Liberal Party do not fund us, we don't accept donations from any political party," he said.
Captain GetUp's visit to the prepoll station disgusted Wangaratta Greens party volunteer Robin Herry.
"I think it's scandalous, someone dressed in a silly costume; it's just implying nasty things," she said.
"I know Helen Haines has got no financial support from GetUp."
National Party helper Cassandra Cunningham said she knew nothing at all about Captain GetUp, she suggested his orange colour could confuse voters into thinking he supported Dr Haines.
Ms Johnson said the orange colours of GetUp and Voices 4 Indi were coincidental.
"(One Nation leader) Pauline Hanson also has orange," she said.
"Orange was the colour we thought exemplified the fresh new approach of Voices 4 Indi."
