Victorian Liberals withdraw Williamstown candidate endorsement over offensive comments

The Victorian Liberal Party has withdrawn its endorsement of Williamstown candidate Paul Lindemann over comments it said he made about Indigenous Australians. The party described the remarks as offensive and inconsistent with the standards expected of candidates.

The party said it had not previously been aware of the views, which had recently come to light. It said candidates were expected to treat Australians with dignity and respect.

The decision comes before Victoria's November 28 election. Williamstown is held by Labor minister Melissa Horne, who has represented the seat since 2018. The party's decision concerns endorsement of its candidate, not a change in the sitting member or an election result.