Liberal candidate for Mandurah James Hall quits politics following ‘proud to be white’ comments

A Liberal party candidate has sensationally withdrawn after Liberal leader Libby Mettam walked out of a press conference amid questions over his social media posts, first revealed by The West Australian, including one proclaiming “proud to be white”. Premier Roger Cook called on Ms Mettam to disendorse James Hall as the party’s candidate for Mandurah on Wednesday morning, calling the posts he shared “repugnant”. Ms Mettam called preselection a party matter and said Mr Hall had apologised. “He regrets those comments and I welcome his apology,” she said. But in a statement late Wednesday, Mr Hall stood aside. “I am not prepared to have this issue become a distraction for the Liberal party’s campaign,” he said. “Perhaps more importantly I don’t want to see my family hurt by ongoing negative media coverage of silly things I posted online years ago.” In a series of social media posts Mr Hall had railed against migrants who “hate our culture” and were bleeding “our welfare system”. He told The West Australian that he had shown “poor judgement” in the past and said the “crude material” did not reflect his values. “I regret the nature of some of those historical posts and the language they contain,” Mr Hall said. On Wednesday, Ms Mettam agreed that the comments were out of line and said he was right to apologise. “He has apologised for those comments, he regrets those comments which I welcome,” she said. “He has gone through a preselection process with the Liberal Party.” But facing repeated questions outside State Parliament, Ms Mettam confirmed that she had not spoken to Mr Hall or viewed the posts herself. “I have not spoken to him, my focus is on the issues impacting Western Australians,” she said. “I have been made aware of those posts and I have been made aware also of his apology and his regret for those comments. “The endorsement of candidates is a matter for the Liberal Party.” Her media adviser then cut the press conference short, telling journalists Ms Mettam had meetings to get to. Senior Labor Ministers took the opportunity to accuse her of lacking leadership, during a fiery question time in State Parliament on Wednesday. “She doesn’t call it out, she actually hides and walks out of a press conference. You are damned forever,” said Housing Minister John Carey. Mr Cook had earlier slammed Mr Hall’s comments, saying his contrition was too little, too late. “These sorts of ideas are absolutely repugnant,” the Premier said. “You now see the Liberal Party once again, preselecting people with crazy extreme right wing views. And quite frankly, it’s not good enough. Now is the time. This is the test for the leader of the Liberal Party.” Mr Hall said the party needed to move on from the controversy. “I have advised the WA Liberal Party that I have decided to stand aside,” he said. “I am deeply grateful for the support I received.. I look forward to helping the Party’s new candidate deliver the change that Mandurah deserves.”