Controversial ex-Liberal staffer Barclay McGain returns

An ex-Liberal staffer who was sacked over social media posts has resurfaced, appearing in the crowd beside party leader Peter Dutton.

An ex-Liberal staffer who was sacked over social media posts and dressed up as the acquitted US shooter Kyle Rittenhouse for a Halloween party has resurfaced in the Aston by-election handing out how to vote cards.

An outspoken advocate for the “no vote” on the constitutional referendum, Barclay McGain previously worked for former Queensland MP Andrew Laming before resigning from the party.

Mr Laming, who rehired him after a three month break, said he was “brilliant” and a hard worker.

“He is young and passionate, He’s made mistakes, one would hope people can learn from mistakes over time … he’s also unapologetic about his beliefs, which are, you know, thoroughly reasonable,” Mr Laming said.

“And I’d never describe it as anything other than a passionate contribution to politics on the Right side.”

Mr McGain was spotted with Peter Dutton and Liberal candidate for Aston Roshena Campbell. Picture: Supplied

But the serial volunteer bizarrely turned up in the outer-suburban Victorian seat of Aston to campaign after jetting in from Queensland over the weekend.

Liberal Party sources stated that Mr McGain was “not on the list of invitees for Saturday night’s function” despite being photographed near the candidate Roshena Campbell.

“Mr McGain is not employed by the Liberal Party, has no formal role with the Party, and is not a member of the Party,” a spokesperson said.

Several years ago Mr McGain posed with a paintball-style toy assault rifle as a part of a Kyle Rittenhouse “costume” at a Halloween Party.

Mr Rittenhouse is the teenager who shot dead two Black Lives Matter protesters and was ultimately acquitted of all criminal charges.

In the Facebook post, he holds a gel blaster gun with the caption: “Kyle Rittenhouse on neighbourhood watch duties in Brisbane’s south tonight.”

This was followed by the hashtag “#NotGuilty”.

At the time, former prime minister Scott Morrison’s office condemned the party outfit.

“Mr McGain’s actions were completely inappropriate and the prime minister’s office has contacted Mr Laming to raise its serious concerns and options for further action,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

The serial volunteer was wearing a party shirt at the event, but supposedly was not on the guest list. Picture: Supplied

But Mr McGain told news.com.au this week that “it was three and a half years ago and I’ve moved on from it and I think a lot of others have”.

In 2019, Barclay McGain sparked anger when he laughed as he interviewed a man on the Gold Coast for the Young LNP Facebook page who said Australia shouldn’t celebrate “a culture that couldn’t even invent the bloody wheel”.

At the time, he was Chairman of the Gold Coast Young LNP and was subsequently suspended from the LNP over the incident.

Mr McGain said his stepfather was “a proud Aboriginal man”.

Originally published as Controversial ex-Liberal staffer Barclay McGain returns