WA Opposition leader Zak Kirkup says "dangerous conspiracy theories" have no place in the Liberal party, after a candidate withdrew from the election when an opinion piece she wrote connecting the 5G network to coronavirus surfaced.
Key points:
- Ms Tokaji wrote an opinion piece promoting conspiracy theories about COVID
- She had been preselected for the seat of Baldivis, south of Perth
- Liberal leader Zak Kirkup says vetting processes did not pick up her views
Andrea Tokaji was the Liberal candidate for Baldivis and wrote a piece on a conservative website in April last year which gave breath to the conspiracy theory.
Mr Kirkup said he asked her to withdraw her candidacy when he found out about the article.
"Reading those comments, I was disappointed and quite concerned," he said.
"More than anything I consider them dangerous conspiracy theories.
"They have no place in the Liberal party."
Conspiracy theory shared online
The article was published on Caldron Pool, a website which describes itself as "politically and theologically conservative", offering news and opinion on "culture, life, family, religion and current events around the world" "with a "conservative and Christian perspective".
The website showed Ms Tokaji's 3,000-word piece was shared more than 200 times.
"There is a current global roll-out of 5G towers and technology. So, based on historical, scientific and expert evidence, we have to ask: is there a correlation between the current roll-out of 5G technology and COVID-19?" she questioned.
She went on to write about the "undeniable correlation" between China's 5G towers and the first case of COVID-19 being discovered in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
Ms Tojaki also claimed radiation destroys human immunity to airborne viruses, a theory that is not accepted by doctors and which has not been supported by credible scientific studies.
Ms Tokaji said the article was about "our freedoms during restrictions, and I posed many questions".
"The questions I posed in my article were in my professional capacity — not as a candidate," she said.
Ms Tokaji said she was deeply saddened by what had happened.
"I thank the Liberal Party for everything and I hold no grudges," she said.
"I wish Zak Kirkup and his team all the best in the upcoming WA State Election."
Vetting process did not pick up conspiracy theory
Mr Kirkup said the article authored by Ms Tokaji was not detected as part of the party's candidate vetting process.
"Unfortunately this wasn't picked up as part of that and ultimately also wasn't declared," he said.
He said the comments undermined the important public health response to COVID-19.
"They were absolutely contrary to the first action I took as the leader of the Liberal party which was to fully support and endorse the Chief Health Officer's advice," he said.
"I would hope that right across the board that anyone who seeks political office understands that they are dangerous [comments] and undermine the public health response."
Mr Kirkup insisted it was an isolated incident, and said if he had known about her article, she would not have been a candidate.
Party questioned over Christian links
Mr Kirkup denied any links between her views and any other candidates who have Christian ties in the party.
"I don't think we should conflate any suggestions like that at all with what has been, I think, very dangerous conspiracy theories that were being suggested in that article," he said.
The Liberal Party has previously attracted criticism from within its own ranks over the role of evangelical churches in its branches in northern Perth, with former member Rob Johnston accusing the Christian right of branch stacking.
Premier Mark McGowan said the incident showed the Liberal party was risky and inexperienced.
He said he was confident in his team of candidates, who had all been closely vetted.
Mr McGowan said the party had always had vetting processes in place, despite Labor's Barry Urban quitting the party in 2017 when he was found to have lied to the public and to Parliament about his police service and education history.
Pledges for Tafe, Kinross College
The State Government and Opposition announced more election commitments on Thursday, both focused on education.
If re-elected, Labor committed $30 million towards 9,000 new vocational education and training positions at TAFE by 2024.
Education Minister Sue Ellery said that included an additional 2,000 funded placements in 2022.
The Opposition announced if elected it would commit $30 million towards expanding Kinross College in Perth's north to allow students to complete years 11 and 12 at the school rather than needing to shift in their final years.
Local Liberal candidate Trish Botha said the investment was necessary for the community especially given the growing school population.