A candidate for Nick Xenophon’s SA Best has been sacked over photos he posted on Facebook two years ago.
Rhys Adams, who had been selected to run for the Liberal-held seat of Finniss, took a series of controversial photos with wax models at Madame Tussauds Sydney.
In one photo Mr Adams held his fist next to the face of pop star Rihanna with the caption ‘It’s Chris baby!’ Chris Brown was convicted after assaulting the US singer.
A candidate for Nick Xenophon’s SA Best has been sacked over photos he posted on Facebook two years ago (pictured)
Rhys Adams, who had been selected to run for the Liberal-held seat of Finniss, took a series of controversial photos with wax models at Madame Tussauds Sydney (pictured)
Other photos showed him groping the breast of Australian actress Toni Collette and the genitals of tennis player Lleyton Hewitt.
‘I acted immediately. You cannot make a joke about domestic violence,’ Senator Xenophon said on Saturday.
In a statement, Mr Adams said the photos showed him ‘doing stupid things with a juvenile sense of humour’.
‘Back then I didn’t take into account those that may be hurt by a what I now reflect on as a very poor-taste joke which certainly doesn’t reflect my mindset or my values,’ he said.
In one photo Mr Adams (pictured) held his fist next to the face of pop star Rihanna with the caption ‘It’s Chris baby!’
Other photos showed him groping the breast of Australian actress Toni Collette and the genitals of tennis player Lleyton Hewitt (pictured is pop star Rihanna)
‘I am certainly sorry for any offence I’ve cause with previous Facebook posts and I wish the SA Best team the very best going forward.’
Senator Xenophon maintained SA Best’s vetting processes for candidates were sound.
‘The vetting process is a sound process because people go through extensive questions, police checks, background checks,’ he said.
‘We already have social media vetting but this was missed. It should not have been missed and the fact it was missed is a very valuable lesson.’
The controversy comes a day after Senator Xenophon announced he would leave federal politics to stand for his local Adelaide seat of Hartley.
‘I acted immediately. You cannot make a joke about domestic violence,’ Senator Xenophon (pictured) said on Saturday
His SA Best party will run candidates in other key seats in an attempt to seize the balance of power in state parliament next year.
Rihanna was punched in the face by Chris Brown in 2009.
Photos taken after Brown assaulted her in his car showed the pop star with visible facial injuries.
Brown was convicted of assault and threatening to kill, and accepted a plea deal of community labor, five years of probation, and domestic violence counseling.
National domestic violence helpline: 1800 737 732 or 1800RESPECT. In an emergency call triple-zero.
Rihanna (pictured) was punched in the face by Chris Brown in 2009 and photos showed her with a swollen and split lip