Liberal in strife over response to rape

A Liberal Party candidate in Victoria is in hot water after saying he had no sympathy for a rape victim and arguing her alleged abuser was the real victim.

An embattled Liberal candidate is under renewed pressure for dismissing a woman's account of rape and abuse at the hands of her husband.

Gurpal Singh, who is contesting the Victorian seat of Scullin, said he had "no sympathy" for the woman and suggested her alleged abuser was the "real victim".

Mr Singh was already in strife over homophobic remarks made during the campaign against same-sex marriage, but the Liberal Party has so far resisted pressure to disendorse him.

In a Facebook post from May last year, Mr Singh questioned why the alleged rape victim stayed with her husband so long.

"It's shameful that a married woman suffering family violence can go to such extent," he said.

"She skimmed her lover, husband and father of her two children for all these years. And now she alleges rape. Was she kept locked all these year?"

"The real victim is the husband."

Mr Singh has been retained as a Liberal candidate despite revelations he said in 2017 that same sex marriage had "a very serious implication on the kids" and raised the issue of paedophilia, saying "in these situations the occurrence can be high."

Scott Morrison said on Wednesday the homophobic comments had been "dealt with" and Mr Singh would remain the candidate.

Last week, the prime minister criticised Bill Shorten for delaying the disendorsement of a Labor candidate who shared a rape joke and other vulgar remarks on social media.

The Liberal Party has been contacted for comment.


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2 min read
Published 9 May 2019 6:36pm
Source: AAP


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