Pauline Hanson suspends candidate Shan Ju Lin over homophobic comments

UPDATE: Dumped One Nation candidate Shan Ju Lin has taken aim at Pauline Hanson’s powerful chief of staff James Ashby, suggesting his interests outweighed party policy when it came to her axing. 170+ COMMENTS

Dis-endorsed One Nation candidate Shan Ju Lin.

• One Nation candidate says gays ‘should be treated as patients’
• Pauline Hanson candidate withdraws after less than a week

DUMPED One Nation candidate Shan Ju Lin has released a statement on social media about her dis-endorsement from One Nation, in which she claims there was no opportunity to defend herself before the decision was made.

“This dis-endorsement decision has come as a complete surprise as One Nation has no policy to be adhered to on this issue except for that of a referendum on gay marriage whereby the community would have its say,” she said.

“The speed of the dis-endorsement decision – without any chance to defend myself – has also been remarkable.

“At no time have I been able to speak directly with Pauline Hanson and therefore I have not had the ability to check what has been related to her about the matter. All candidates are only able to contact her via her Chief of Staff Mr James Ashby, who then replies back on her behalf.”

One Nation candidate Shan Ju Lin has made controversial comments about gay people on Facebook. Picture: Supplied

Ms Lin defended her decision to post inflammatory content about a homosexual couple accused of abusing foster children in their care.

“This posting was a natural reaction to child sexual abuse and reflects the horror of the community,” she said.

“When it was brought to my attention that the couple had been found not guilty in a court of law, the post was subsequently removed.”

Ms Lin also took aim at Senator Hanson’s powerful chief of staff James Ashby – who is gay.

“I would suggest that the alleged issue was far more important to Mr Ashby than the membership or executive of One Nation,” he said.

“My wholehearted support for Pauline Hanson remains, and I look forward to the internal issues within One Nation being finally resolved for good.”

Meanwhile, Senator Hanson has addressed her candidate’s dumping via a statement on Twitter.

“These are not the views shared by Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, now the views of your fellow candidates and the general public,” she said.

“I will not stand by and allow people to trash the Party or my name, so I make no apologies for being tough on candidates.”

In the statement, Senator Hanson also claimed Ms Lin made further derogatory comments about the gay community in a conversation with party executives.

“Ms Lin stated to the executive members: ‘Once the gays realise they can put pressure on a candidate they will start to target other One Nation candidates also’,” the statement said.

PRESS RELEASE: I will not stand by & allow people to trash the Party or my name so I make no apologies for being tough on candidates #auspol pic.twitter.com/VUYdPqpY2U

— Pauline Hanson (@PaulineHansonOz) January 8, 2017

Overnight Ms Lin thanked her followers for their support during her short-lived State Election campaign.

In a message to her supporters via social media, Ms Lin insisted she would not back away from her “values”.

“Thanks for all supporters, no matter what happened, I will continue to hold the values that we are holding,” she wrote.

Ms Lin was informed of the party’s decision last night after she “continued to post denigrating remarks and stories” to her Facebook page.

EARLIER: ONE Nation has dumped one of its State Election candidates over anti-gay comments she made on social media.

Shan Ju Lin, who was preselected last month to contest seat of Bundamba for the party was initially suspended before being dumped late today.

“Shan Ju, you have not heeded the warnings of the executive after your suspension less than 24hrs ago regarding “gays should be treated as patients”, and have continued to post denigrating remarks and stories to your Facebook page,” Miss Lin was told by the party.

“These are not the views shared by Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, nor the views of your fellow candidates and the general public.

“Pauline Hanson has instructed me to inform you, effective immediately, you are no longer the endorsed candidate in the seat of Bundamba for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.”

In the since deleted Facebook post, Miss Lin wrote that “gays should be treated as patients”.

“Abnormal sex behaviour leads to abnormal crime,” the post said.

The post was linked to an old story about a couple accused of sex crimes who were later cleared.

It is understood Ms Lin is overseas in Taiwan but has been contacted by the party and informed of her axing.

Shan Ju Lin. Picture: Supplied

In an earlier email response to a complaint made by former Labor Herald journalist Terry Watson about Miss Lin’s comments Senator Hanson responded: “I was informed of Miss Lin’s comments last night and immediately suspended her as the endorsed candidate.

“Her comments are totally out of touch with my views and those of the party”.

It comes just weeks after another PHON state election candidate, Andy Semple quit after he was asked to remove a tweet containing a cartoon the party believed was offensive.

Mr Semple refused to delete the tweet and resigned as a candidate instead.

He quit less than 48 hours after Senator Hanson officially announced her first arch of candidates to contest the Queensland election, expected to be held in the second half of this year.