One Nation candidate quits Melbourne race over posts about consent
Matthew Collins withdrew from the Victorian election race after old social media posts denying women need sexual consent came to light.
A One Nation candidate in Melbourne has quit the upcoming Victorian state election. Offensive online comments from his past had resurfaced.
Matthew Collins apologised for posts on a since-deleted X account that dismissed asking for sexual consent from women as cringe. In 2020, he wrote that he had never asked any woman for consent.
He claimed it was all implied by a woman's actions and attraction levels. The 35-year-old said the old posts no longer represented who he was.
He deeply regretted making them. One Nation said it did not condone the comments.
The party accepted his resignation.
- 35 years old
- Candidate age
- Melbourne, Victorian state election
- Electoral contest
- 2020
- Consent post year
Why it mattersA candidate's exit just before the election reshapes the local race and shows One Nation is not immune to vetting problems.
AustraliaThe withdrawal affects One Nation's prospects in the inner Melbourne seat as Victoria heads to the polls.
Corroborated bythenightly.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
