Jamie Cavanough with Bob Katter
Bob Katter’s Australian Party is reviewing the controversial comment made by its candidate for Greenway, Jamie Cavanough on halal meat.
Party national director Aidan McLindon said the executive committee make a decision on Mr Cavanough’s future tomorrow.
He was responding to Mr Cavanough’s Facebook comment that his preference for buying ‘‘guaranteed non-halal meat’’ would ensure his money does not ‘‘go to the Muslim community’’.
Mr McLindon earlier told the Sun he had advised Mr Cavanough to keep inappropriate comments to himself.
He also sent a one paragraph saying; ‘‘Some Australians want crunchy peanut butter, others want smooth peanut butter, some Australians want halal meat and some want non-halal meat – these are just some of the great freedoms we enjoy in this country”.
When asked to elaborate Mr McLindon said it was a politically incorrect comment but said Mr Cavanough had learned his lesson.
‘‘Australians are mature enough to accept everyone who makes a stupid comment is not racist.’’
Mr Cavanough, 26, told Fairfax Media he was simply looking for a better deal on meat and his comments were not racially motivated.
‘‘ I want to be able to purchase a product that has not been faced to a god that I don’t believe in and blessed,’’ he said.
‘‘Every time something is deemed halal they pay for the right.
‘‘I have no problem with Muslims; I breed sheep and cattle and sell them to Muslims.
‘‘I don’t care what they do with them, I was just simply asking where I can purchase [non-halal meat].’’
Labor’s Michelle Rowland, the sitting MP for Greenway, said these comments were bizarre, out of line and totally inappropriate for someone seeking to represent the seat of Greenway, which is a diverse part of Australia.
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