Katter Wentworth candidate’s brothel link
UPDATE: A Wentworth candidate who failed to disclose to his party his links with a high class Sydney brothel has now been disendorsed.
NSW
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A WENTWORTH candidate who failed to disclose to his party his links with a high class Sydney brothel has been disendorsed.
The Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) has confirmed it has disendorsed candidate Robert Callanan after The Sunday Telegraph revealed he was a former director of a company that shared an ABN with The Penthouse - The Ultimate Gentlemen’ Club in Sydney’s Pitt Street.
“Upon being made aware of this information, we have taken decisive action,” KAP president Shane Paulger told The Sunday Telegraph.
Party leader Bob Katter and Queensland Senator Fraser Anning last month unveiled accountant Mr Callanan as their candidate for the upcoming Wentworth by-election.
The Bellevue Hill resident was described as the owner of an accountancy business, a treasurer of the Sydney United soccer club and a former member of the army reserve.
Missing from his CV was a reference to Mr Callanan’s directorship of Sydney Best Catering Pty Ltd, which has the same ABN number as The Penthouse - The Ultimate Gentlemen’s Club in Sydney’s Pitt Street.
Sydney Best Catering Pty Ltd is also registered at the same Rockdale address as Callanan Consulting - the latter firm the KAP head office confirming on Friday was the business of its candidate.
The directorship of The Penthouse ceased in August, a few weeks before Mr Callanan was announced as the KAP candidate.
Mr Katter said Mr Callanan would be disendorsed should his links with a gentlemen’s club be confirmed.
“I don’t want to be self-righteous, but our party voted against the legislation of brothels and if that’s the case - and in our due diligence we couldn’t find anything that would suggest he was involved in something like that - then he’s out,” he said.
“Disendorsed. Gone.”
One of the reviews for The Penthouse noted its “good atmosphere” and girls with “varying levels of talent and professionalism”.
“No cover charge to get in,” it said.
Mr Callanan declined to return calls, while the KAP head office requested questions to be put in writing, before failing to respond.
However, a KAP source said Mr Callanan had confirmed to the party on Friday night that he was a former director.
Mr Callanan’s campaign was launched last month at the Rose Bay RSL in front of a crowd of more than 100 KAP members and supporters, with the party promising to campaign issues such as stopping Muslims from entering the country.
“His main campaign objectives are to focus on supporting families and business, and to support an immigration plebiscite,” a statement said.
The party itself describes its values and principles as being on Christian values.
“Australia was founded and thrived on Christian values, a fair go and the individual’s freedom to prosper,” its website states.
“This heritage belongs to all Australians and defines the culture of the nation.
“The ideals for Australian society and government should be based upon these principles.”
Mr Callanan is first on the ballot paper, a placing that is expected to help him attract votes although not enough to push out frontrunners Liberal candidate Dave Sharma, Labor’s Tim Murray and independent, Dr Kerryn Phelps.
Early voting in the seat begins October 2.