WA Liberals say disgraced candidate Andrea Tokaji did not tell party about her coronavirus conspiracy theories

A WA Liberal Party candidate who peddled coronavirus conspiracy theories was able to secure the party’s endorsement because she did not reveal an online article she published about her views to party officials, Liberal deputy leader Libby Mettam says. Andrea Tokaji agreed to withdraw as the Liberal candidate for Baldivis ahead of the March 13 State Election on Wednesday afternoon. Her resignation came within hours of The West Australian asking the Liberals about the online article linked 5G technology with COVID-19 on a Christian conservative website. Under the headline, “Are Our Fears of the Coronavirus Undermining Our Freedoms?”, the article claimed that while West Australians were in self-isolation, 5G towers were being rolled out “against our knowledge — despite the known under-reported health risks”. Outside a Liberal Party fundraise which Ms Tokaji was meant to appear at on Wednesday, Liberal deputy leader Libby Mettam quickly moved to distance her party from the conspiracy theory. “We certainly don’t support the former candidate’s published views,” Ms Mettam said.“We take COVID very serious and we’ve got a very clear position on COVID-19 in WA, which is to support the chief health officer’s advice.” Ms Mettam said aspiring politicians seeking to run in State Elections as a Liberal candidate are meant to disclose any articles they have published to party officials as part of a pre-selection background check. “It’s my understanding that the former candidate did not disclose that published article, as part of that process, ” Ms Mettam said. Ms Tokaji, whose profile on the WA Liberals website says she is a qualified lawyer who has worked as a chaplain and youth pastor, pointed to “evidence” the Spanish Flu in 1918 “coincided with the introduction of radar equipment installation”. “This may be the evidence we have been overlooking,” the article stated, going on to claim 1968’s “Hong Kong flu” coincided with the introduction of satellites that emit “radio-active frequencies on levels which our bodies have adverse reactions to”. “There is a current global roll-out of 5G towers and technology,” the article continued. “So, based on historical, scientific and expert evidence, we have to ask: is there a correlation between the current roll out of 5G technology and COVID-19?” In a statement late Wednesday afternoon, Liberal leader Zak Kirkup said he did not endorse Ms Tokaji's published views. “In the fight against COVID-19 there is no politics,” Mr Kirkup said. “I have spoken to Andrea Tokaji and she has agreed to withdraw as Liberal candidate for Baldivis. “I absolutely do not endorse her published views and will not be distracted from the job of keeping Western Australians safe and putting forward our positive plan for the state. “The first policy I announced as leader was to back the advice of the Chief Health Officer without hesitation and to make that advice public. I have acted to make sure there is absolutely no question about where we stand on COVID-19.”