One Nation Melbourne candidate Matthew Collins steps down, apologises for past ‘unacceptable’ comments

One Nation’s candidate for Melbourne has quit and apologised over his past comments just four weeks out from the Victorian state election.

Matthew Collins resigned after it was revealed he had posted offensive comments on his social media accounts, which reportedly ranged from highly sexualised remarks to anti-Muslim rhetoric.

A One Nation spokesperson said it had accepted Mr Collins’s resignation from candidacy, and that he had acknowledged the comments were “offensive and unacceptable”.

“One Nation Victoria has been made aware of a number of offensive comments posted on social media by our candidate for Melbourne, Matthew Collins,” they said.

“Our party does not condone these comments.”

Mr Collins released a statement via the party apologising for his past statements.

“I am very sorry for the unacceptable comments that I made,” he said.

“They are not reflective of who I am as a person now and I deeply regret ever having made them.”

One Nation to endorse another candidate

One Nation Victorian leader Warren Pickering today addressed an anti-immigration rally in Melbourne.

After his speech, he confirmed to the media that he had been briefed on Mr Collins’s posts.

“They were obviously vulgar and not in the public interest, that’s for sure,” Mr Pickering said.

“I appreciate that he’s decided to step down of his own accord.”

Mr Pickering said the party had done all it could to vet its candidates ahead of the Victorian election.

“The reality is if there’s targeted assaults from the other side of politics that takes weeks and weeks to dig up this stuff on someone, there’s no conceivable way that we could spend six months vetting 120 candidates, we just don’t have the resources yet,” he said.

He said the party was in the process of endorsing another candidate to replace Mr Collins and insisted it was not too late for the party’s chances in the seat of Melbourne despite it being less than a month until the November 28 election.

The deadline for candidates to nominate for the Victorian election is not until Monday, November 9.

According to Victorian Electoral Commission rules, candidates can nominate up until midday that day, which is 19 days out from the election.

‘Absolutely disgusting’

Mr Collins was contesting Victorian Greens leader Ellen Sandell’s seat.

Ms Sandell said the comments by Mr Collins were illustrative of One Nation’s politics.

“It’s no wonder that when Pauline Hanson and One Nation’s policies are all about beating down on people from different backgrounds that you get these kinds of people coming forward wanting to be her candidates,” she said.

A spokesperson for Labor said the posts were disgraceful.

“One Nation has said they want a deal with the Libs. [Opposition Leader] Jess Wilson won’t rule it out,” the spokesperson said.

“So now she must answer whether she is comfortable working alongside people with these views.”

Ms Wilson described Mr Collins’s comments as “absolutely disgusting”.

“He should be condemned for it,” she added.

Pub vandalised with anti-One Nation graffiti

Meanwhile, a hotel in western Victoria has been spray-painted with anti-One Nation graffiti overnight.

The party said Meaghers Hotel was targeted because the publican is a One Nation supporter and was displaying election posters for candidate for the seat of Eureka, Paul Ballinger.

“This is appalling,” Mr Ballinger said.

“It’s cowardly behaviour. It’s an attack on democracy. Crime is out of control in our state.”

Mr Ballinger said he would not be intimidated by the attack.

He said two cars that were vandalised in the car park belonged to random patrons who had simply left their vehicles at the hotel overnight.

He said the matter had been reported to police.

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