Guy sticks by controversial candidate days after vowing to keep another out of party room

Matthew Guy is standing by his candidate in a key Liberal target seat despite a series of controversial claims the man made, including that women were using abortion as a form of contraception.

Victorian Liberal Party leader Matthew Guy. Picture: David Crosling

Matthew Guy is standing by his candidate in a key Liberal target seat despite a series of controversial claims the man made earlier this week, including that women were using abortion as a form of contraception.

In a leaked recording of conversations he had outside pre-poll in the Labor-held southeastern Melbourne seat of Narre Warren North, Timothy Dragan can be heard saying Australia should not recognise Indigenous people ­“because we won this land fair and square”, and that nuclear waste should be dumped in Alice Springs.

The controversy comes six days out from polling day, and after Mr Guy on Saturday vowed to ban upper house Liberal candidate Renee Heath from sitting in the Coalition party room following revelations of Ms Heath’s links to the ultraconservative City Builders Church.

Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins said Mr Dragan’s comments were “an absolute disgrace”. “There’s no place in Victoria for this sort of rank sexism,” she said. “Matthew Guy needs to tell Victorians whether he accepts and agrees with these views.”

Mr Guy said Mr Dragan’s comments were “not at all sensible” but that he had apologised for them and that was enough.

“The Liberal Party I lead has very clear plans in relation to what we would do should we come to government, both with treaty, both with LGBTIQ rights, and we stand by those, and my team will, too,” he said.

The Opposition Leader denied he was struggling to keep his candidates in line.

“No, what we are focused on is changing the government, and giving Victoria sensible and reasonable government … We can talk about candidates all you like, but that’s not going to save Victorians who are dying waiting for an ambulance,” he said. “At our pre-polls, Victorians are asking very clearly about health and cost of living. They’re not asking me about other matters.”

Premier Daniel Andrews on Sunday said Mr Dragan’s views did not accord with mainstream values. He also criticised the opposition for preferencing independent MP Catherine Cumming, who told supporters she wanted to make the Premier “turn into red mist”, at a Melbourne “freedom rally” on Saturday.