This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jun/22/liberal-candidate-apologises-for-facebook-post-about-invasion-day

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Liberal candidate apologises for Facebook post about invasion day Liberal candidate apologises for Facebook post about invasion day
(2 months later)
A Liberal candidate has apologised for saying anyone who refers to invasion day instead of Australia Day should be hit in the face with a chair.A Liberal candidate has apologised for saying anyone who refers to invasion day instead of Australia Day should be hit in the face with a chair.
The candidate for the safe Labor seat of Gellibrand, Ben Willis, has since apologised for the comment he made on Facebook on 22 January.The candidate for the safe Labor seat of Gellibrand, Ben Willis, has since apologised for the comment he made on Facebook on 22 January.
Related: Malcolm Turnbull says colonisation of Australia could be described as 'invasion'
“If you describe Australia Day as ‘invasion day’ you need a high five. In the face. With a chair,” he wrote, according to the ABC.“If you describe Australia Day as ‘invasion day’ you need a high five. In the face. With a chair,” he wrote, according to the ABC.
Willis “unreservedly” apologised for the comment on Tuesday but said other posts made on the same day praised Indigenous heritage.Willis “unreservedly” apologised for the comment on Tuesday but said other posts made on the same day praised Indigenous heritage.
During the election campaign the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, said the colonisation of Australia could be fairly described as an “invasion”.During the election campaign the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, said the colonisation of Australia could be fairly described as an “invasion”.
Labor is calling on the Liberal party to dump the candidate, arguing the comment was unacceptable.Labor is calling on the Liberal party to dump the candidate, arguing the comment was unacceptable.
“This bloke casually just suggests that he wants to hit someone in the face with a chair because they use a word he doesn’t like,” said the party’s campaign spokeswoman, Penny Wong.“This bloke casually just suggests that he wants to hit someone in the face with a chair because they use a word he doesn’t like,” said the party’s campaign spokeswoman, Penny Wong.