Barnaby Joyce, the deputy leader of One Nation, has condemned a series of homophobic remarks made by the party's Western Australian candidate, Parminder Singh, who claimed homosexuality is a “mental illness.”
Singh, who ran on One Nation WA's upper house ticket at the 2025 election, made the comments during an interview posted to social media by Perth comedian and content creator Jasky Singh. The interview has since drawn widespread criticism.
Joyce's Response
Speaking to ABC's Afternoon Briefing, Joyce called the comments offensive and emphasized that One Nation is “one of the gayest parties in Australia.” He said, “He obviously doesn't know One Nation because we have, surprisingly, quite a large proportion of gay people. They are all the same: they don't want to be glorified or vilified; they just want people to accept them. They go on and do a very good job and, to be quite frank, a comment like that is highly offensive in my view.”
Joyce also noted that One Nation's South Australian MP, James Virgo, is gay, highlighting the party's inclusive stance.
Implications
Joyce has not confirmed whether Singh will be disendorsed, leaving the matter unresolved. The controversy comes amid broader debates about LGBTQ+ rights and political representation in Australia.
The incident underscores ongoing challenges within political parties regarding inclusivity and the vetting of candidates. As the 2025 election approaches, the party faces scrutiny over its handling of such remarks.
