One Nation pick apologises, quits over offensive posts

Matthew Collins, a candidate for the upcoming Victorian state election, has resigned from his candidacy following the resurfacing of offensive online comments. The 35-year-old, who was running in Melbourne's inner-city electorate, apologized for the comments, stating they no longer reflected his current beliefs. Collins had previously suggested that he did not believe in obtaining consent from women, which was labeled as "cringe" in his social media posts.

The party did not endorse the comments, and Collins acknowledged the offensive nature of the statements. Opposition Leader Jess Wilson condemned the candidate's views, describing them as "absolutely disgusting." Collins, who is listed as being newly married and running a small business, had previously listed community safety, cost-of-living pressure, and government accountability as his political priorities.

One Nation, the party he represented, has consistently polled third behind the coalition and Labor ahead of the state election.