The Victorian Liberal Party has withdrawn its endorsement of Paul Lindemann, its candidate for the seat of Williamstown, after offensive comments about Indigenous Australians came to light.
In a statement, the party said it had immediately removed its support for Lindemann following the discovery of the remarks.
“These comments are offensive, unacceptable and inconsistent with the values and standards expected of Liberal candidates,” the party said.
The statement added that all candidates are expected to treat Australians with dignity and respect and that Lindemann’s comments failed to meet those standards.
The Liberal Party said it had not previously been aware of the comments before they recently emerged.
The controversy comes amid heightened scrutiny of political candidates ahead of the upcoming Victorian election. It follows a separate decision by One Nation to drop former Preston candidate Franco Guardiani over comments relating to Adolf Hitler.
Earlier on Monday, Victorian Sports Minister Steve Dimopoulos called on Opposition Leader Jess Wilson to remove Lindemann as a candidate following allegations that he had insulted and mocked a young basketball player while coaching the Bay City Lakers.
In a statement, Lindemann apologised for his actions and acknowledged that he should have handled the situation differently.
The ABC reported that attempts were made to contact Lindemann for further comment.
The seat of Williamstown has been held by Melissa Horne, Victoria’s Minister for Jobs, since 2018. The electorate has traditionally been one of the safest Labor seats in the state, having been won by the Australian Labor Party at nearly every election since 1889.
Victorians are scheduled to go to the polls on 28 November, with political parties facing growing scrutiny over candidate conduct as the campaign intensifies.
+ There are no comments
Add yours