One Nation's candidate for Melbourne, Matthew Collins, has resigned from the Victorian election race after a series of sexually explicit and offensive social media posts were brought to light, with the 35-year-old stepping down on Friday night following public reports of the content.
What the Posts Contained
The posts, some dating back to 2019, were linked to a now-private X (formerly Twitter) account connected to Collins. In one exchange from 2019, responding to a post encouraging men to seek consent before sex, Collins appeared to dismiss the message entirely.
"I've never asked for consent to do anything," he reportedly wrote, adding: "It's so funny that people like this exist."
In a separate post from 2021, when another user wrote "Retweet this if you love asking for consent," Collins allegedly replied: "Mateeee consent is cringe."
In yet another exchange, Collins responded to a question asking men what they attributed their success with women to, writing: "Big brain plus big pp."
The resurfacing of these posts follows growing public scrutiny of social media behaviour and its consequences, including in political contexts.
One Nation Accepts Resignation, Collins Apologises
One Nation Victoria confirmed it had accepted Collins' resignation after being made aware of the posts. In a statement, a party spokesperson said the party does not condone the comments made by its now-former candidate.
"One Nation Victoria has been made aware of a number of offensive comments posted on social media by our candidate for Melbourne, Matthew Collins," the spokesperson said. "Our party does not condone these comments. Mr Collins acknowledges his comments were offensive and unacceptable, and One Nation Victoria has accepted his resignation from his candidacy."
Collins, who had previously declared on One Nation's website that he was "ready to represent Melbourne," issued a personal apology following his departure.
"I am very sorry for the unacceptable comments that I made," Collins said. "They are not reflective of who I am as a person now and I deeply regret ever having made them."
A History of Controversy on Social Media
This is not the first time Collins has attracted attention for his online conduct. He previously faced criticism over posts containing anti-Muslim rhetoric, including calls to "decolonise" parts of the Muslim world.
The latest controversy is a significant blow to One Nation's campaign in Melbourne ahead of the Victorian election, with the party now needing to navigate the fallout from a candidate whose social media history has proven deeply problematic. Political observers note that candidate vetting over past online activity has become an increasingly critical issue for parties across Australia.
Broader Context
The incident adds to a string of candidate controversies that have shaped Australian political contests in recent years. For historical background on political events that have influenced the current landscape, see this overview of key moments in recent Australian history. Collins' resignation serves as a reminder of the lasting reach of social media posts and the scrutiny candidates face when their online histories are examined.
