PALMER United Party state leader Kevin Morgan says the views of an endorsed candidate who posted a series of derogatory comments online should be respected.
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Yesterday, Mr Morgan unveiled the party's Lyons candidates including Deloraine driving instructor Mark Grewar, who has used social media to comment on Australia's involvement in Afghanistan and asylum seekers.
In the comment he referred to the country's people as "dune coons" and that Australia "should have nuked the lot".
He had also said that asylum seekers were "escaping nothing but less opportunity", and had allegedly been linked to anti-homosexual material.
Mr Grewar's social media comments were uncovered by political analyst Dr Kevin Bonham and posted on his blog.
Mr Grewar said the comments had been taken out of context.
"I'm definitely not anti-gay," he said.
"It was just an Australian doing silly stuff."
Mr Grewar said he had since deleted his Facebook account but could not remove some content.
Mr Morgan said his party would not be implementing a social media policy, and that his candidates "needed to reflect the views of the community".
"We need to respect people for their views," Mr Morgan said.
"We have no problem with the history behind our candidates," he said.
Mr Morgan also announced two other Lyons candidates for the March election; Derwent Valley councillor Wayne Shoobridge and businessman Quentin von Stieglitz.
The PUP candidates for Bass will be announced tomorrow.