The Liberal Party candidate for Gellibrand has been forced to apologise just days out from the federal election over a violent post on his Facebook page.
On January 22, Ben Willis posted that “if you describe Australia Day as invasion day, you need a high five. In the face. With a chair”.
After news of the post emerged, Mr Willis’s personal Facebook page and his Ben Willis–Liberal for Gellibrand Facebook campaign page were both taken offline last week.
Both pages were back online by Monday.
Mr Willis apologised on Twitter and provided a statement through the Victorian Liberal Party. “I unreservedly apologise for this comment,” it said. “As I also commented on Facebook that same day: ‘Australia Day is also a celebration of the nation’s Indigenous heritage and how the first peoples of Australia are now considered equal under the law, which is exactly how it should be’.
“I am incredibly proud to call myself Australian, and I am proud of both our Aboriginal heritage and also our British heritage.”
Labor spokeswoman Penny Wong called on the Liberal Party to dump Mr Willis, arguing his comments were unacceptable.
She told the ABC it was up to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to act.
“This is his candidate, he needs to respond,” Ms Wong said. “And I would say a strong leader would disendorse this candidate and a responsible leader would condemn his comments.”
Mr Turnbull, who this month said white settlement “can be fairly described” as an invasion, was questioned about Mr Willis’s Facebook posts.
“I understand the candidate in question has made an apology, a rather comprehensive apology for that.”
Labor MP Tim Watts and Greens candidate Jonathon Marsden both declined to comment. Gellibrand will be a four-way contest between Mr Willis, Mr Watts, Mr Marsden and independent David Tran.
Maribyrnong candidates are Opposition leader and sitting MP Bill Shorten, Liberals’ Ted Hatzakortzian, The Greens’ Olivia Ball, Australian Christians’ Anthony O’Neill, independent Catherine Cumming and Animal Justice Party’s Fiona McRostie.
Challenging Lalor’s Labor MP Joanne Ryan will be Rise Up Australia’s Marion Vale, Liberal Gayle Murphy, Australia First’s Susan Jakobi and The Greens’ Daniel Sova.
Voting details: www.aec.gov.au
