Clive Palmer has labelled online comments about women and Muslims, purportedly made by his candidate in the Canberra seat of Bean, as "not acceptable".

Key points: The account hosted divisive views about women, Muslims and LGBTIQ people

The account hosted divisive views about women, Muslims and LGBTIQ people Tony Hanley claimed the posts were "defendable"

Tony Hanley claimed the posts were "defendable" Mr Hanley will be listed second on Liberal how-to-vote cards in Bean

A Facebook account in the name of United Australia Party (UAP) candidate Tony Hanley made posts calling Saudi Arabians "tea towel heads" and said the children of taxi drivers were "future terrorists".

It also carried online posts referring to women and same-sex attracted women as "fem-nasties", "dykes", "big fat fugly chicks" and "Dolly Birds FEMBOTS".

One post derided women and LGBTIQ people. ( ABC News )

When asked about the posts at a press conference, Mr Palmer said he had not heard about them, but when some examples were read aloud to him, he said the views were not appropriate.

"That's not acceptable to me, it's not part of our party policy, but whether or not he said that and the context of what he said, I'll take that up with him after this conference today," he said.

"We've got people that live in Australia from all different countries over the world that contribute to our country and they're all Australians. We've got to respect them."

The Canberra Liberals have a preference deal with the Clive Palmer-led party, directing voters to give their second preference to UAP candidates.

Labor has also put the UAP ahead of the Liberals on its how-to-vote cards, but does not have a preference deal with the party.

One of the posts made to the account. ( ABC News )

In a statement, a spokesman for the ACT branch of the Labor Party said they had put the United Australia Party and the Liberals in "unwinnable positions" at the bottom of their how-to-vote card.

"Because we strongly believe that both of these candidates shouldn't represent Canberra in the federal parliament," the statement said.

"Why is Zed and his Liberal candidates in Canberra asking Canberrans to vote for a man who is sprouting derogatory and racist views on social media?"

The Canberra Liberals did not respond to the ABC's questions about whether the party would reassess its preference deal with the UAP in Bean.

"We don't support these comments and are encouraging all Canberrans to vote Liberal," a spokesperson said.

An account linked to Tony Hanley made posts mocking women and Muslims. ( Supplied )

The posts, made on a since-deleted Facebook page under Mr Hanley's name, presented divisive views on immigration, women, and LGBTIQ people.

One post on the account, responding to an ABC story about a Saudi agricultural company buying farmland, stated: "Vote for selling our politicians off to the tea towel heads! ie [sic] Australian culture for cloths used to dry up dishes by hand".

Another post suggested the "average taxi driver" had five wives and 23 children, who might be "future terrorists".

Yet another post claimed the "most horrible people ever in my life" were gays, lesbians, and people who were transitioning genders.

Mr Hanley declined an invitation from the ABC to be interviewed about the posts or whether he was responsible for them.

In phone calls and text messages, Mr Hanley said the posts were "defendable" and cited his record of good works in the Canberra community.

The ACT preference deal is part of a nationwide agreement between the Liberal Party and the United Australia Party for the coming federal election. But it is possible to have local variations from seat to seat.

Barnaby Joyce has preferenced the Christian Democrats first on his ballot paper in his seat of New England, bucking the Nationals' deal with One Nation.