By CATHERINE WATSON
CASEY councillor Rosalie Crestani has confirmed she will stand for Australia’s new ultra-right political party in the September federal election.
Danny Nalliah, head of the Rise Up Australia party, confirmed Cr Crestani would stand on the party’s Victorian Senate ticket at No. 2, behind him.
The party is standing on a platform that combines free market principles with Christianity and opposition to multiculturalism.
Mr Nalliah praised Cr Crestani’s “stern resolve and courage” throughout the campaign against the proposed Doveton mosque, which prompted his invitation to her last month to join the party.
The mosque is planned for a site next to the $2 million headquarters of Mr Nalliah’s church, Catch the Fire Ministries.
Cr Crestani was the only councillor to oppose it when the application came before the planning committee on March 12.
But she has not given up the fight: at last week’s council meeting, she moved a motion for a poll of residents to see what they thought of the mosque so councillors could “represent their views properly”.
She received little support from her fellow councillors.
Cr Wayne Smith described the motion as “mischief-making” that would set a “dangerous precedent”.
Mayor Amanda Stapledon said a poll would be counter-productive and divisive. “I would like to put this to rest and hope it is the last time we hear about it.”
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