A Liberal-National candidate in a crucial Queensland seat has issued an apology after social media posts containing contentious views on China, Covid-19 restrictions, and “feminists” resurfaced. Jeremy Neal, the candidate in question for the Leichhardt seat, found himself at the center of a scandal as his online history came under scrutiny. The posts, now deleted, revealed Neal’s outspoken stances against China, Covid lockdowns, and the Victorian government during the pandemic. Neal labelled China as a “grub of a country” and referred to Victoria as a “fasist state” in his tweets.

In a statement, Neal apologized for the “poorly worded” posts, attributing his actions to the emotional toll of his work as a paramedic during the Covid pandemic. His support for Donald Trump was also highlighted, with images showing campaign supporters wearing “Make Albo go away” hats. Neal’s apology acknowledges the controversial nature of his posts and distances himself from the views expressed in them.

The controversy surrounding Neal comes amid speculation about potential candidates, particularly in the context of Peter Dutton’s campaign. The Labor party has capitalized on the resignation of veteran Liberal MP Warren Entsch to contest for the Cairns-based seat that Neal is fighting to retain. The episode underscores the importance of social media vigilance for political candidates, as past online activity can resurface and impact public perception and electoral prospects.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/09/lnp-candidate-jeremy-neal-leichardt-queensland-china-covid-lockdown-social-media-posts-ntwnfb