Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party has dumped candidate Shan Ju Lin after comments on her Facebook page saying gay people “should be treated as patients” and “need to receive treatments”.
Ms Lin was subsequently removed as the endorsed candidate for the seat of Bundamba, The Courier-Mail reported.
“Shan Ju, you have not heeded the warnings of the executive after your suspension less than 24hrs ago regarding ‘gays should be treated as patients’, and have continued to post denigrating remarks and stories to your Facebook page,” Ms Lin was reportedly told.
“These are not the views shared by Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, nor the views of your fellow candidates and the general public.
“Pauline Hanson has instructed me to inform you, effective immediately, you are no longer the endorsed candidate in the seat of Bundamba for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.”
The candidate had posted to her personal Facebook a link to an outdated news story about a US couple who were accused of sexual assaulting their adopted children but were later cleared of the charges. She wrote: “Abnormal sexual behaviour leads to abnormal crime. Gays should be treated as patients, they need to receive treatments.”
Pauline Hanson said in a statement that Ms Lin’s views “are not shared by One Nation, nor the views of fellow candidates and the general public.”
“I will not stand by and allow people to trash the party or my name, so I make no apologies for being tough on candidates,” she said.
In a statement, Ms Lin said her disendorsement had come “as a complete surprise” and she had removed the Facebook post when it was brought to her attention that it was outdated.
“One Nation has no policy to be adhered to on this issue except for that of a referendum on gay marriage whereby the community would have its say,” she said.
“The speed of the disendorsement decision – without any chance to defend myself – has also been remarkable.
“At no time have I been able to speak directly with Pauline Hanson and therefore I have not had the ability to check what has been related to her about the matter.”
But she added: “My wholehearted support for Pauline Hanson remains, and I look forward to the internal issues within One Nation being finally resolved for good.”
One Nation has previously suggested that same-sex marriage could lead to child marriage. In 1996 Hanson told 60 Minutes she believed homosexuality was “unnatural”.
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[…] weekend, the One Nation party’s candidate for the seat of Bundamba Shan Ju Lin was disendorsed after posting on her personal Facebook that “gays need treatment,” also referring to “abnormal sexual […]