A political firestorm has erupted after a Victorian One Nation candidate suggested he wanted former premiers Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan to be ‘in prison by Christmas’.
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Andrews → erupt → Christmas
The remarks were made by One Nation upper house candidate Mark Nicholson during the party's campaign launch at Melbourne's Crown Conference Centre on Saturday.
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remarks → make → Saturday
Nicholson, One Nation's lead candidate for the Northern Metropolitan Region and creator of the party's online cartoon content, used his speech to promise a dramatic reckoning for Victoria's political establishment.
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Nicholson → use → establishment
'If I have it my way, Dan Andrews, Jacinta Allan, they’ll be in prison by Christmas,' he told the crowd of about 750 supporters.
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he → have → supporters
And this is how, together, we can take Victoria back.'
He also said that 'heads are going to roll' if One Nation wins government.
The speech drew criticism from Libertarian MP David Limbrick, who accused the party of threatening to imprison political opponents.
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who → take → opponents
'There is nothing patriotic, Australian or even Western about the idea of threatening to imprison political opponents,' Limbrick wrote on social media.
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Limbrick → be → media
A One Nation candidate has declared Dan Andrews and Jacinta Allan should be 'in prison by Christmas'
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Andrews → declare → Christmas
The remarks were made by One Nation upper house candidate Mark Nicholson (pictured) during the party's campaign launch at Melbourne's Crown Conference Centre on Saturday
'
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remarks → make → Saturday
Those who propose this type of power never imagine it will be used against them.
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it → propose → them
Veteran broadcaster Neil Mitchell also criticised the remarks, describing them as incompatible with democratic principles and the rule of law.
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Mitchell → criticise → law
'One Nation promises Andrews and Allan will be in prison by Christmas.
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Andrews → promise → Christmas
What complete nonsense,' Mitchell wrote.
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Mitchell → write → nonsense
Even for people we may not like.'
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we → like → people
The comments come as a royal commission examines allegations of corruption and organised crime in Victoria's building industry.
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commission → come → industry
The inquiry centres on allegations that organised crime figures infiltrated major taxpayer-funded projects forming part of the state's multibillion-dollar Big Build during Andrews' time as premier and Allan's tenure as infrastructure minister.
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figures → centre → minister
A report prepared by Geoffrey Watson SC for a Queensland inquiry alleged that billions of dollars may have been lost through corruption, intimidation and criminal activity across government-funded construction projects.
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billions → prepare → projects
Labor Premier Ben Carroll subsequently established a royal commission into allegations of corruption and organised crime in the building industry.
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Carroll → establish → industry
Daniel Andrews (left) and Jacinta Allan (right) are expected to be called before the inquiry
Tim Wilson (pictured) would not back Nicholson's remarks, but said 'no one is above the law'
Both Andrews and Allan have come under fire for their oversight of the state's infrastructure program and are widely expected to be called to give evidence before the inquiry.
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Andrews → expect → inquiry
Appearing on News 24 on Sunday, Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson declined to endorse calls for Andrews and Allan to be jailed, instead pointing to the Victorian government's royal commission and the need for due process.
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Andrews → appear → process
'What I want is to make sure there's proper due process,' Wilson said.
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Wilson → want → What
'That's why finally Labor has been dragged kicking and screaming to a royal commission.
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Labor → drag → commission
We need a Coalition government to make sure that the royal commission does its job, holds people to account in a way that hasn't occurred.'
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that → need → way
Wilson used the interview to renew attacks on the Victorian Labor government, claiming serious questions remained unanswered about public money and dealings with the CFMEU.
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questions → use → CFMEU
'Last time I was on this program, we talked about how $15 billion had been handed from taxpayers' money to the CFMEU-Labor cartel through to organised crime,' he said.
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he → talk → crime
'We need to make sure people are held to account.'
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people → need → account
Pressed repeatedly on whether he wanted current or former Victorian politicians prosecuted as a result of the royal commission, Wilson stopped short of backing Nicholson's remarks but insisted that political office should not shield anyone from legal consequences.
'I don't believe anybody is above the law,' he said.
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he → press → law
Daily Mail has approached One Nation for comment.
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Mail → approach → comment
The Aporia
