‘Abhorrent’: Candidate says Ukraine run by Nazis, LNP preferences him over Labor
A conspiracy theorist who claims Ukraine is run by Nazis and Covid-19 vaccines increase cancer risk has been put ahead of Labor by the LNP in a blue-ribbon inner Brisbane seat.
Federal Election
Don't miss out on the headlines from Federal Election. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A candidate who says the Ukraine government is run by Nazis has been preferenced over Labor by the LNP in the inner Brisbane seat of Ryan.
The candidate for the Australian Federation Party, Axel Dancoisne, has also posted about Covid mRNA vaccines increasing cancer risk and referenced the “new world order” government conspiracy theory.
Labor says the comments are “abhorrent” and it was up to LNP Member for Ryan Julian Simmonds to explain why the candidate was preferenced so highly.
An LNP spokesman said the how-to-vote card was a reflection of the “need to put a Labor-Greens coalition last”.
The LNP put him fifth out nine candidates on their how-to-vote cards, ahead of Labor, Greens, One Nation and Australian Progressives, while Labor preferenced him second last, only ahead of One Nation.
Among his posts on various social media Mr Dancoisne expressed concern at Australia providing military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine following it being brutally invaded by Russia, and in another post referred to “Ukronazis”.
“Remember that they (other parties) currently support and arm a regime in Ukraine that describes itself openly as N A Z I,” Mr Dancoisne said in repeating a line pushed by Russia prior to its invasion of its neighbour.
In another he posted a link to an Covid-19 vaccination article and quoted claims that “the mRNA vaccines potentially cause increased risk to infectious diseases (and) cancer”.
Other posts referred to the NWO, which refers to the New World Order conspiracy of an authoritarian world government.
A Labor Party spokeswoman said the comments were “abhorrent” and that Mr Simmonds should explain why he chose to place Mr Dancoisne so high on his preference list.
“Of course, this won’t come as a surprise to voters, considering Mr Simmonds is trying to rely on dodgy preference deals with Pauline Hanson’s One Nation in this election,” she said.
“Mr Simmonds come clean to voters about what price they have had to pay to strike this dodgy deal and what it will cost voters.”
An LNP spokeswoman said the party put Labor and Greens last “because Australia cannot risk a Labor-Greens Coalition Government”.
“Federal MP Julian Simmonds is working hard to earn the first preference vote of locals. Voters are free to number each box as they see fit,” she said.
“Julian Simmonds’ how to vote card is a reflection of the need to put a Labor-Greens Coalition last.”
Mr Dancoisne was contacted for comment.
Australian Federation Party state director Mark Aldridge said candidates were encouraged to “get out there and share posts” and see what people think.
“I don’t think it paints a picture of who the party is,” he said.
“I did ask that they keep on better topics. If they decide not to do that, they have to wear the consequences.
“If the community don’t vote for him, he has to wear the consequences.”
LNP commits to slashing ‘patient tax’ to help North Queenslanders
The state’s Shadow Treasurer says he’s committed to helping the hip-pockets of North Queenslanders when it comes to healthcare, as a local GP addresses the cost of living pressures hitting small practices.
Andrew Laming challenges $40k Facebook fines in High Court bid
Former federal MP Andrew Laming has surprised the country’s election watchdog, launching a surprise High Court challenge to overturn doubled penalties he received for three Facebook posts.