Labor defends Queensland candidate Helen Madell over deleted ‘paedo’ tweets about Pope Francis
Labor is standing by its candidate for the central Queensland seat of Flynn, Helen Madell, who in now-deleted tweets from 2020 accused the late Pope Francis of providing “ongoing support for paedos”.
Housing Minister Clare O’Neil told Sunrise the tweets were inappropriate but excused the candidate for making them because she has counselled child sex abuse victims.
“Your question about the candidate — I mean, this is a person who has counselled child sexual abuse victims,” Labor frontbencher Clare O’Neil said.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“She’s seen first-hand some of the damage that’s been done to families and communities, and she made some intemperate comments five years ago.
“I think if we’re counting anyone who’s ever said anything intemperate, most people in Australia will never be eligible to sit for parliament.”
Liberal senator James Paterson called for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to disendorse his candidate for Flynn who made the tweets about Pope Francis and the Catholic Church.
“If the Prime Minister is sincere, and I believe he is, about his affection for the Pope and his leadership, then he shouldn’t want someone on his team who said those awful things about the Pope,” Paterson said.
“The only option for Labor to disendorse the Flynn candidate.”
