One Nation Victoria had not disendorsed Greenvale candidate Chris Moore after his apology for Facebook posts targeting minority groups, The Guardian reported, renewing scrutiny of the party's candidate vetting before the state election.
The Guardian reported that Moore used an ethnic slur about Australian-Indians and made derogatory comments about lesbians and refugees. It also reported a joke comparing a woman and child wearing burqas to rubbish bags. The Guardian reported that Moore shared an image pairing Julia Gillard with Home and Away character Alf Stewart; Stewart's caption directed a sexist insult at Gillard.
In comments to Guardian Australia, Moore called the posts “unthoughtful” and said they no longer represented him. He said he wanted to do right by Greenvale voters and give them a strong voice in Parliament.
The Guardian reported that a Labor spokesperson called on One Nation to disendorse Moore and urged the Liberal Party not to give him preferences. The spokesperson said the comments were unacceptable.
One Nation Victoria's candidate screening includes personal social media accounts and a three-person panel, The Guardian reported. The outlet said it was unclear how Moore's posts escaped review. The party has said it invested time and money in improving its vetting process.
The report follows other candidate controversies in the campaign. EconoTimes previously reported that One Nation Victoria disendorsed Preston candidate Franco Guardiani after posts praising Adolf Hitler surfaced, while the Victorian Electoral Commission continued to list him.
The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) says election day is Nov. 28, with early voting opening Nov. 18.
