Past Facebook comments prompt call for WA Liberal candidate Daniel Parasiliti to be dumped
The West Australian Opposition has called on Premier Colin Barnett to sack the Liberal Party's candidate for the state seat of Midland over offensive comments he posted on Facebook eight years ago.
Daniel Parasiliti came within 24 votes of beating Michelle Roberts in the seat in 2013 and wants to give it another go at the March 2017 poll, but his campaign has hit a snag.
The 33-year-old physiotherapist, local councillor and father of three wrote the offending comments, which surfaced over the weekend, when he belonged to a Facebook group opposed to a Stolen Generation apology.
Mr Parasiliti lashed out at one woman in particular.
"One of them was extremely vulgar, insensitive. I'm apologetic for that. It was directed to a person who had a different opinion to what I had, an opinion I don't stand by today," he said.
"Daniel Parasiliti is a man of honour. I'm a man of pride and I'm sincerely apologetic. I take full unequivocal responsibility for what I've said."
Plea for second chance
Mr Parasiliti said he did not remember writing the offensive posts, nor joining the Facebook group, but was sincerely sorry and wanted a second chance.
"This has been done strategically to target something which I hold great and that's my character," he said.
"They've had to scroll through thousands of posts close to a decade ago of comments I made, which I am sincerely, sincerely sorry for."
Mr Parasiliti has the support of his wife Alia.
"I know this happened about 10 years ago. Daniel is a different person. I support him in everything he does," she said.
Opposition Leader Mark McGowan wasted no time calling on the Premier to sack the candidate.
"Mr Barnett, you can't hide today. You need to come out and address this," Mr McGowan said.
"The sorts of commentary in particular about women and Aboriginal people was beyond appalling and if I was the Premier I'd be removing him as a candidate today."
Decision to be made in 'due course'
The Premier has refused to be drawn on the controversy, with his office saying it was a matter for the lay party.
The Liberals' state director Andrew Cox said the matter would be considered and a decision made in due course.
In a statement, Mr Cox took a swipe at the Opposition Leader.
"It is noted that similarly themed comments by a Labor candidate were recently revealed and that Mark McGowan took no action over that issue and ... reaffirmed his support for that candidate," he said.
Mr Parasiliti said he had learned from his mistakes.
"You guys scream for normal people to go for politics," he said.
"Well I'm a normal person. I made a stupid, stupid, vulgar, crude mistake. We're on a life's journey. I think we're on a road to redemption."