Candidate dumped

Candidate dumped

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One Nation leader Pauline Hanson with Thornlie candidate Sandy Baraiolo.

Former One Nation candidate for Thornlie Sandy Baraiolo was disendorsed as a candidate just two and a half weeks out of the state election.

Ms Baraiolo said the party had disendorsed her on February 22 over issues relating to social media accounts.

Ms Baraiolo said she was told to set up a ghost account on Facebook, which meant she could have no friends on it but it was a page solely dedicated to the campaign.

“My Facebook page was set up by the party,” she said.

“I was grateful to be a candidate and very happy.

“The whole reason I got into this was to do something about the needle exchange program with many residents wanting the van in a discreet position instead of right outside Gosnells Markets.”

Ms Baraiolo said although she was made an admin of her One Nation Facebook page she alleged she was deleted as the admin and made an editor.

“I didn’t have any control over my Facebook page,” she said.

“When I was deleted as an admin I lost all control over my own page.

“I couldn’t post anything, how was I supposed to run my campaign?

“This campaign is being run from Queensland.”

Ms Baraiolo said she was disillusioned by the party and was contacted directly by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.

“I explained everything to her over the phone,” she said.

“I was told it would be sorted but next thing I knew I was disendorsed.”

Ms Baraiolo said she felt One Nation did not have any trust in their candidates and called them controlling.

“I was a strong candidate with a focus on community,” she said.

“They did not like that I am independent and strong, I did not do anything illegal, immoral or wrong.”

The Examiner contacted One Nation for comment but the party did not respond before deadline.

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