news, national

Northern Territory Green George Hanna has avoided becoming the sixth federal election candidate dumped over offensive social media posts. Mr Hanna shared a meme on Facebook in January showing Aboriginal Warlpiri/Celtic Country Liberal Jacinta Price drinking from a coconut with the caption, "It's not every day you see a coconut drinking from a coconut." The term is considered a racial slur used to accuse dark-skinned people of acting white. The post was shared by Mr Hanna - who is also indigenous - before he nominated to run for the seat of Lingiari and he has apologised. Ms Price called for him to be dumped over the posts she described as "despicable, bullying and racial vilification". Ms Price, an Alice Springs town councillor, is popular in conservative political circles and Mr Hanna told the NT News "quite a few Aboriginal people feel she's not a friend to us". There have already been five candidates dumped since the federal election was called over screenshots of posts on social media regarded as racist, homophobic, Islamophobic and anti-Semitic. "We've spoken with George Hanna, our candidate for Lingiari, about the importance of ensuring that criticism of policy doesn't become personal," a Greens spokesman said. "As a First Nations person, George has seen his community deeply impacted by Price's divisive and harmful rhetoric, advocacy of the removal of children and opposition to changing the date. "Criticisms of these policies and viewpoints is valid - and George has committed to ensuring his criticism is limited to policy in future. He has offered an apology to Jacinta Price for using this language." Australian Associated Press

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