Why does the Navy only have a problem with conservatives in politics?

Despite two generations of the York family having served the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Conservatives Senate candidate Sophie York is now under orders to erase her proud history, writes Miranda Devine.

Sophie York is a barrister, Lieutenant Commander in the naval reserve, mother of four and senate candidate for the Australian Conservatives.

She also grew up as a “navy brat”, one of 12 children of the late Commodore David York, a 42-year veteran of the Royal Australian Navy.

He literally gave his life to the Navy, since the mesothelioma which killed him at 79 this year was due to asbestos exposure from the ships.

This was the sacrifice his family bore for his service. He was away at sea for the birth of his children, including Sophie. Four of her brothers and two sons-in-law also joined the Navy.

Australian Conservatives Candidate Sophie York in her Navy uniform. Sophie York with her father Commodore David York. Picture: supplied

So, you can see that the York family are devoted to serving their country.

And, yet, on Friday Sophie was ordered to pull down a video about her life which featured her with her beloved father, growing up at Garden Island, and in uniform with her brothers.

She was forced to expunge it all from her campaign material. You may as well expunge her entire life.

The Navy has no problem with politics when personnel march in the overtly political Mardi Gras. No problem with senior Naval officer Mona Shindy criticising Tony Abbott and promoting Islamist Imams on the official Navy Islamic Advisor Twitter account.

The military had no problem when Labor MP Mike Kelly used campaign photos of himself in uniform. They only a problem when conservative MP Andrew Hastie used photos of himself in SAS uniform.

And now they crack down on Sophie York. What an insult to her family’s sacrifice.

@mirandadevine