Labor puts Covid anti-vaxxer Andrew Thaler ahead of Nats in Monaro

Labor is preferencing an ­independent Covid anti-vaxxer ahead of the Nationals in the upcoming state by-election in Monaro.

Labor is preferencing an ­independent Covid anti-vaxxer ahead of the Nationals in the upcoming state by-election in Monaro.

The party’s candidate Bryce Wilson’s campaign material instructs voters to give their fifth preference to independent Andrew Thaler, who believes the Covid-19 vaccine is “experimental”, “untested” and is “injuring people”.

Bryce Wilson’s campaign material instructs voters to give their fifth preference to anti-vaxxer Andrew Thaler.

In defending the move to direct preferences to Mr Thaler above Nationals candidate Nichole Overall, a NSW Labor spokesman said the party was “putting the Nationals last” because “Dominic Perrottet and the Nationals refused to listen to the health advice in December”.

However, Mr Thaler wants to end all Covid restrictions.

He has said in social media posts that “public sanitation and clean drinking water was the strongest vaccine we ever invented”.

The independent candidate stood by his comments Monday and said he was not an “anti-vaxxer” because he was not opposed to other vaccines. Mr Thaler told The Daily Telegraph he didn’t believe it was possible to “invent” a new type of vaccine to “trick” the body into creating an immune response against Covid.

Andrew Thaler independent for Eden Monaro

Independent candidate for Monaro Andrew Thaler has labelled the Covid vaccine "experimental," "untested" and a "magical potion".

Mr Thaler also attended a Canberra protest opposing lockdowns and vaccination mandates, labelling the vaccine a “magic potion”.

NSW Labor disputed they were directing preferences to Mr Thaler.

“Our strong recommendation is that voters put him second last on their ballot paper,” a spokesman said.