By LIA SPENCER
A CASEY councillor will run for the senate, alongside a man who strongly opposed a controversial planning decision for a mosque in Doveton.
Cr Rosalie Crestani said she waited until the council made its planning decision before she became a member of the Rise Up Australia Party, which is led by Catch the Fire President Daniel Nalliah.
Catch the Fire Ministries strongly opposed the mosque, as it was building a smaller church next door.
Cr Crestani was the only councillor to vote against the permit for a mosque in Doveton and said if she had become a member of the party before the decision was made, she would have had to declare a conflict of interest.
The Rise Up Australia Party began the Victorian State Campaign on 16 February for the federal election with the slogan “Keep Australia Australian.”
Mr Nalliah said the board of directors was “totally committed to the protecting of Australia from multiculturalism.”
“Australia is a multi-ethnic country: many races, many skin colours – but one culture – Australian,” he said.
Cr Crestani will be running behind Mr Nalliah on the party’s Victorian senate ticket in the September federal election. She said she met him in November and was “pleasantly surprised” by his humility.
“I met this very calm, humbled, amazing gentlemen with an amazing amount of humility. He is outspoken, but with humility, which is an amazing combination,” she said.
“I think he is what Australia needs in a leader.”
Cr Crestani said she thought it was a long-shot that she would be elected to the senate, but was ecstatic with her decision.
“I was told I was a crazy woman for doing this and that it’s political suicide, but I believe it’s the path for me,” she said.
“I think the Rise Up Australian Party has commonsense principles and has a lot of answers Australia has been looking for.”
Cr Crestani said she would not let her decision to run with Rise Up Australia Party affect her duties on council, but would have to stand down from her local position if she was elected to the senate.
