NT Greens: Peltherre Chris Tomlins steps down after controversial Facebook posts
A Greens political hopeful has stood down from running after controversial social media posts emerged. Read what the party’s convener said.
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Centralian political hopeful Peltherre Chris Tomlins will be standing down from running in the election after controversial social media posts surfaced.
The ABC revealed the anti-Semitic Facebook posts by Mr Tomlins, drawing the ire of the Jewish community, including Executive Council of Australian Jewry chief executive Alex Ryvchin who accused the Greens of having “an anti-Semitism issue.”
Mr Tomlins has since rejected the accusations of anti-semitism.
NT Greens convener Jonathan Parry said Mr Tomlins’ decision to step down showed the Greens were “serious” about holding political candidates to account.
“What happened in Chris (Tomlins) stepping down as candidate shows a lot of integrity and it shows the Greens are serious when it comes to holding our candidates for public office to a very high standard,” he said.
“This has not been a decision made lightly and it’s not a decision that’s been easy.”
Mr Parry said Mr Tomlins had expressed remorse for the posts.
“While we’re disappointed to see Chris no longer running as a candidate for the Greens, I am extremely confident in the other candidates we have already announced and look forward to announcing more candidates into the future.”
Separately, the decision comes after a horrid week for Police Minister Brent Potter, who became embroiled in a social media storm when Facebook posts dated between five and 11 years ago re-emerged.
The posts included a Nazi general quote, use of the ‘n’ word, and criticism of Orthodox Jews.
Mr Potter said he regretted the activity.
“I’m sorry for those comments, I can’t change what I have done,” he told a press conference on Thursday.
“They were stupid, they were d — khead posts.”
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