By Laura Michell
The Liberal Party will be without a candidate for the marginal seat of Yan Yean after an anti-Muslim video featuring candidate Meralyn Klein surfaced last week.
The video featured Ms Klein being interviewed by the Australian Liberty Alliance’s Avi Yemini.
In the video, Ms Klein spoke about an alleged attack outside a restaurant she used to own.
She claimed two teenage boys used to harass and threaten her family, before attacking her one night.
“They threw me to the ground, dragged my arm and then proceeded to drag me through the dirt, tearing the tendon in my shoulder,” she said.
“I was a bit bloody and bruised and my clothes were torn.”
Ms Klein did not mention religion in the video. She said the boys were “of a culture who didn’t accept white Australian women”.
The video featured graphics claiming the boys were Muslim and ends with the hashtag #MUSLIMBAN.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said the party asked for Ms Klein’s resignation within an hour of finding out about the video.
“[Ms Klein] made a video, some of the material of which was grossly inappropriate,” he said.
“[The video was] for another political party, one I might add we are putting last.”
Ms Klein’s Liberal Party campaign page has been removed.
Ms Klein has announced that she will run as an independent candidate for Yan Yean, however she will remain on the ballot paper as the Liberal candidate as she resigned after nominations were closed.
Labor MP Danielle Green holds Yan Yean by a margin of 3.7 per cent.
Ms Klein did not respond before Star Weekly went to print.
MORE NORTHERN ELECTION NEWS
www.starweekly.com.au/news/labor-makes-northern-hospital-childrens-emergency-poll-pledge/
www.starweekly.com.au/news/police-to-open-shop-at-craigieburn-central-if-coalition-wins-election/
