Labor's candidate for the West Australian seat of Curtin, Melissa Parke, has pulled out of the contest after reports she told a public meeting last month that Israel's treatment of Palestinians was"worse than the South African system of apartheid".
In a statement, Ms Parke said her views on this issue were well-known, but that she does not want to distract from Labor's election campaign. "I've had 20 years' experience in international relations and law including living and working in the Middle East," she said."But I don't want them to be a running distraction from electing a Labor government which will take urgent and strong action on climate change.Ms Parke was the minister for international development in the Rudd government.
She resigned as the federal member for Fremantle in 2016 after nine years in the seat, saying she wanted to travel less and be closer to her family. She was previously a lawyer with the United Nations before being preselected to the traditionally safe Labor seat.
billshortenmp AustLabourParty yes a real shame when telling the truth gets you disendorsed. Goes to prove Israeli lobby has the ALP by the nuts. So much for the high and mighty leader
She speaks the truth about Isreal and it's crimes against Palestine and she is the one who has to resign? Shame on you ALP, for caving into the Zionists lobby, complicit in these Israeli crimes AustralianLabor billshortenmp
We live in a democracy, don’t we?
Mistake here I think. Should be “traditionally safe Liberal seat”.
Good now shorten is in trouble .
Palestinians have been abused for over fifty years by the Jews. Apartheid is ripe.
Such a shame about Melissa Parke resigning when LNP get away with so many outrageous things it is impossible to keep up, media should keep a tally and hold them to account
You are not wrong with you annalogy. The conversation being off point, would be that distraction, for sure. All good health to you.🙋🏼🌺
Hardly controversial, she spoke the truth. Yet Dutton is still in Parliament, this is so wrong.
I live in Curtin and am so disappointed, antisemitism - what was she thinking?! And knowing that a homophobic climate change denier in Celia Hammond was the Liberal’s pick for one of the safest seats in the country is even worse! :( please vote Independent!!!
Would have expected anti-semitism from the Greens, I guess Labor shows it too.
A savvy move at this time though Aus parliament's loss. Hopefully the stars will be better aligned in the near future to secure Melissa's skills & experience to benefit the national interest. She has much to offer.
Stop calling the comments controversial. What is controversial is that she withdrew because of them. Foreign interference, anyone ...?
Keep your principles when you know you are rite
What was controversial about telling the truth?
She is an intelligent person with extensive experience what she said is not wrong labor this is disappointing what happened to courage of convictions.....
No offence if I had to choose, Jews over muslims any day. Jews gave us Einstein, muslims gave us Bin Laden.
Thereby proving claimed influence
Day 2 and we see Labor already stifling any hint of personal opinion from being freely expressed by their candidates. Similarly, neither will they stick up for an Australian journalist who's won the Walkely when he'd unjustly being prosecuted. I'm voting Green!
Libs breathe sigh of relief
Controversial to who?
Health Health Latest News, Health Health Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: SkyNewsAust - 🏆 7. / 78 Read more »