Health Minister Brad Hazzard has rejected claims the Liberal Party has quarantined Port Stephens candidate Jaimie Abbott since she became embroiled in a Facebook trolling scandal.
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The Newcastle Herald reported two weeks ago that Ms Abbott had been forced to apologise to Port Stephens MP Kate Washington after it emerged one of her volunteers had been using fake Facebook profiles to troll the Labor campaign.
Facebook deleted seven profiles connected to the volunteer, Tasman Brown, a parliamentary staffer of Liberal MLC Catherine Cusack, as well as Ms Abbott's account.
The Clerk of the Parliament is also investigating a separate complaint from Ms Washington that Mr Brown's online activities were a breach of parliamentary resources.
Ms Abbott appeared in photo opportunities with government ministers Gladys Berejiklian, Melinda Pavey and Ray Williams in the week before the scandal broke but has been relatively quiet since then despite contesting a marginal seat that Ms Berejiklian has said is crucial to the Coalition's chances.
Mr Hazzard was in Newcastle on Tuesday morning with Hunter candidates Jenny Barrie, Blake Keating and Nick Trappett, each of whom are outsiders on Saturday, to repeat a $780 million Liberal promise to redevelop John Hunter Hospital.
Asked why Ms Abbott was not at the launch of the region's biggest campaign promise, Mr Hazzard said: "I would be delighted if Jaimie Abbott could be here, but she is out campaigning.
"She is an outstanding candidate. I think Jaimie is fantastic."
Ms Washington and Shadow Transport Minister Jodie McKay said last week that Liberal ministers had cancelled visits to the Hunter since the scandal broke.
