Opposition leader confirms accuracy of online comments
Tasmanian Opposition leader Rebecca White says she is happy to testify about the veracity of offensive Facebook comments made by Liberal candidate Jessica Whelan.
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TASMANIAN Opposition leader Rebecca White says she is happy to testify about the veracity of offensive Facebook comments allegedly made by Liberal candidate Jessica Whelan.
Ms White says she has proof the Liberal candidate made the comments.
Ms Whelan is under fire for Facebook posts in which she allegedly said Muslims should not be allowed to live in Australia.
The Liberal Party has denied Ms Whelan made the posts and has raised the possibility they were doctored and said they would be referred to authorities.
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Ms White claimed Ms Whelan made the comments on Ms White’s Facebook page two years ago.
“I am absolutely 100-per-cent sure that those comments made by Jessica Whelan on my Facebook page, those racist, intolerable comments, are true and accurate and are reflective of a pattern of behaviour by her that shows she has views that are intolerable and she can not continue on as an endorsed Liberal candidate in Lyons,” she said.
“The comments that were left on my Facebook page were quite clearly left by Jessica Whelan.
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They are racist, they are intolerable and they were not doctored.
“They were quite clearly left there for all to see. I have no doubt she has probably deleted them by now, but we have copies of those.
“As anyone who has Facebook understands, you get a notification when somebody comments on your Facebook page.
She said Ms Whelan must be sacked.
“The Premier himself described those comments as abhorrent. Jessica Whelan should not continue as the endorsed Liberal candidate for the Tasmanian seat of Lyons.
“It is untenable to think that someone who holds those extremist, racist views could represent our community.”
Ms White said she would be happy to give evidence in court about the comments if required.
david.killick@news.com.au
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