Additional Facebook posts attributed to Liberal candidate for Lyons Jessica Whelan have been found
Embattled Liberal Lyons candidate Jessica Whelan apparently made comments on the Facebook pages of her political opponents, new extracts from her social media history show.
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UPDATED: EMBATTLED Liberal Lyons candidate Jessica Whelan apparently made comments on the Facebook pages of her political opponents, new extracts from her social media history show.
Ms Whelan has denied making posts disparaging of Muslims, saying screenshots of such comments may have been digitally altered.
Comments provided to the Mercury, show posts under the name Jessica Whelan also appeared on the pages of State Labor leader Rebecca White and Federal Lyons MP Brian Mitchell.
LYONS LIBERAL CANDIDATE DENIES ‘ISLAMOPHOBIC’ POSTS
In one comment, Ms Whelan apparently said public hospital facilities were not up the scratch.
The post was read out in State Parliament this morning.
“I pay for private health & I want to keep it. I don’t want to be stuck going to the RHH, even tho I pay for that too,” the post says.
“Having to take my children there is bad enough. Maybe make the private hospitals take on more? Why do I have to take my children to the public hospitals when I pay a bomb for private health? They should have paediatricians onsite.
Health Minister Michael Ferguson said he was not aware of the comments.
“I am not aware of such a post, I haven’t seen such a post and I am not in a position to take anything the leader of the Opposition brings into this place at face value.
“I’m not sure if Ms Whelan made those comments, but if she did, I agree with them. We need to work on those accessibilities in the public system and the private system.”
In a second comment Ms Whelan opposed cuts to penalty rates.
“We’re highly unlikely to be able to keep our employees on-board if we tell them we’re no longer going to pay them weekend penalty rates. Why would people give up their weekends with their families for crap money when they could just get Government payments instead?”
Comment was sought from the Liberal Party on the latest posts.
david.killick@news.com.au
EARLIER: PREMIER Will Hodgman has been grilled in State Parliament over Facebook comments attributed to the Liberal candidate for the federal seat of Lyons.
Candidate Jessica Whelan has denied making comments disparaging Muslims on Facebook.
The Liberal Party says they may have been digitally altered and is referring them to authorities.
Opposition leader Rebecca White has condemned the comments during Question Time.
Mr Hodgman said he understood the comments had been denied, but his position on the matter was clear.
“What I will stand for and what I will stand up for is supporting our multicultural communities and supporting harmony in our communities,” he said.
“Any statements of that nature we would stand firmly against.
“There is no doubt that those words are abhorrent, and if they were used by any person, they should not be endorsed in the upcoming election.”
He said he expected the matter would be looked into and “all appropriate action taken.”
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Greens MP Rosalie Woodruff said Mr Hodgman was part of the party apparatus which appointed Ms Whelan, and if the candidate made the comments, Ms Whelan should be disendorsed.
One of the posts Ms Whelan was accused of making condemned women who supported Islam.
“Round them up Donald, cut their clitoris’ off & sell them to Muslims in Muslim countries & cancel their passports. You’ll make a mint.”
Another post attributed to Ms Whelan included a comment that Muslims should not be allowed to live in Australia.
“Given that your profile states you went to College at ‘Never lose hope in ALLAH’. I hope you’re bloody NOT on our housing waiting list. You shouldn’t even be in Australia if you believe in ALLAH!” the comment read.
Labor MP Julie Collins called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to sack Ms Whelan as his party’s candidate.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is visiting Agfest in northern Tasmania today. He is expected to be asked about Ms Whelan’s comments.
david.killick@news.com.au
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