WA election Liberal candidate Andrea Tokaji withdraws after ‘dangerous’ 5G coronavirus conspiracy theory beliefs revealed

WA Opposition leader Zak Kirkup says “dangerous conspiracy theories” have no place in the Liberal party, after a candidate withdrew from the election when an opinion piece she wrote connecting the 5G network to coronavirus surfaced.

Andrea Tokaji was the Liberal candidate for Baldivis and wrote a piece on a conservative website in April last year which gave breath to the conspiracy theory.

Mr Kirkup said he asked her to withdraw her candidacy when he found out about the article.

“Reading those comments, I was disappointed and quite concerned,” he said.

“More than anything I consider them dangerous conspiracy theories.

“They have no place in the Liberal party.”

Conspiracy theory shared online

The article was published on Caldron Pool, a website which describes itself as “politically and theologically conservative”, offering news and opinion on “culture, life, family, religion and current events around the world” “with a “conservative and Christian perspective”.

The website showed Ms Tokaji’s 3,000-word piece was shared more than 200 times.

“There is a current global roll-out of 5G towers and technology. So, based on historical, scientific and expert evidence, we have to ask: is there a correlation between the current roll-out of 5G technology and COVID-19?” she questioned.

She went on to write about the “undeniable correlation” between China’s 5G towers and the first case of COVID-19 being discovered in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

Ms Tojaki also claimed radiation destroys human immunity to airborne viruses, a theory that is not accepted by doctors and which has not been supported by credible scientific studies.

Ms Tokaji said the article was about “our freedoms during restrictions, and I posed many questions”.

“The questions I posed in my article were in my professional capacity — not as a candidate, she said.

Ms Tokaji said she was deeply saddened by what had happened.

“I thank the Liberal Party for everything and I hold no grudges.,” she said.

“I wish Zak Kirkup and his team all the best in the upcoming WA State Election.”

Vetting process did not pick up conspiracy theory

Mr Kirkup said the article authored by Ms Tokaji was not detected as part of the party’s candidate vetting process.

“Unfortunately this wasn’t picked up as part of that and ultimately also wasn’t declared,” he said.

He added that the comments undermined the important public health response to COVID-19.

“They were absolutely contrary to the first action I took as the leader of the Liberal party which was to fully support and endorse the Chief Health Officer’s advice,” he said.

“I would hope that right across the board that anyone who seeks political office understands that they are dangerous [comments] and undermine the public health response.”

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