PARTY’s OVER: Brian Cain is going solo as an independent.
FEDERAL candidate for Calare Brian Cain has severed ties with Katter’s Australia Party less than a month after he was endorsed.
The Cargo-based political hopeful will stand as an independent but said he still agrees with the core values, principles and policies of the party despite labelling it undemocratic and controlled by people who had alternative agendas.
The party has been plagued with controversy over recent months when former candidate Tess Corbett linked homosexuality with paedophilia and former Senate candidate Bernard Gaynor was suspended for saying he would not allow gay teachers to educate his children.
Mr Gaynor resigned from the party on Wednesday.
But Mr Cain denied he was trying to distance himself from the controversy.
“I’ve been in the party two years,” he said.
“Bernard Gaynor resigned the same day as I did but that’s completely different. He said a pretty silly thing and I don’t support that either.”
Mr Cain said he did not expect his election chances would change now he has left the party, saying he had been endorsed by the party despite being at odds with its position on gay rights.
“I can now say whatever I want if someone asks me a question,” he said.
“Because Bob’s under so much scrutiny that keeps it on the front page for reasons other than policy.”
He would not comment on media reports the party was on the verge of collapse.
“Bob [Katter] is still doing the same things and he’s head of the party but there are people that are now in control and I feel it’s undemocratic,” he said.
clare.colley@fairfaxmedia.com.au
