Key points
- Nationals candidate Shaun David Gilchrist has been found dead days out from the state election.
- He was due in court on 30 November for sexual offences, AAP has confirmed.
- National's leader Peter Walsh told reporters on Monday the party was not aware of the charges.
This article contains references to sexual assault.
A National Party candidate due in court over rape charges has died five days out from the Victorian state election.
Shaun David Gilchrist, 47, the candidate for the regional seat of Narracan, died unexpectedly at Rawson on Sunday.
Police were called to bushland about 4.15pm and will prepare a report for the coroner, but the death is not being treated as suspicious.
He was due in the County Court on 30 November for sexual offences, AAP has confirmed.
A trial date was set for June 2023.
National's leader Peter Walsh told reporters on Monday the party was not aware of the charges when Mr Gilchrist was endorsed.
But Mr Walsh would not say whether the coalition had spoken to the 47-year-old about the allegations before his death.
"I'm not going to get into a commentary about the issues because I have been specifically asked by his widow to respect their privacy," Mr Walsh said.
Mr Gilchrist, who lived in Warragul but worked overseas representing government and business, is survived by his partner and children.
In a statement, Premier Daniel Andrews said while he had never met Mr Gilchrist he was "respected by so many across the community for his warmth, his humour and his hard work".
"Our thoughts are with his family and friends, as well as his colleagues and his supporters, who are all grieving the most tragic of losses," he said.
The Victorian Electoral Commission has been notified of his death.
According to the commission's candidate handbook, an election will be considered "failed" if a candidate dies after nominations close but before 6pm on election day.
A new writ will instead be issued for a supplementary election in the district.
It comes as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made a surprise visit to join Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Monday's election campaign.
Posting photos to social media, Mr Albanese thanked volunteers at a Caulfield polling booth and said the premier was building a better future for all Victorians.
But Deputy Liberal Leader David Southwick has slammed Mr Andrews and Labor for their use of the term Nazi to describe some candidates running for parliament.
Both the Premier and Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan accused the coalition of preferencing Nazis and extremists on their group party ticket.
Mr Southwick said it was "completely inappropriate and desperate" of the government to use the term Nazi and if there were candidates running with those views, then they should be named.
Anti Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich agreed, saying the word should only be used when discussing the Holocaust.
"If there are Neo-Nazis running for this election, I want to know who they are," Dr Abramovich told reporters on Monday.
"The public needs to know who they are. They are a threat to our way of life."
Mr Southwick said the coalition did not want to see people with extremist views in parliament but the party had to preference Labor last in order to increase its chances of winning government.
He also denied knowing upper house candidate Renee Heath had links to the controversial City Builders Church when she was pre-selected to the Liberal Party.
Liberal Leader Matthew Guy said Ms Heath would not sit in his party room if elected but it was too late to disendorse her.
Mr Guy backed Liberal candidate Timothy Dragan at the weekend after recordings of his comments regarding Indigenous Australians, abortion and climate change were leaked. Source: AAP
She denied supporting gay conversion therapy and said suggesting otherwise was "completely false and misleading".
Mr Guy backed Liberal candidate Timothy Dragan at the weekend after recordings of his comments regarding Indigenous Australians, abortion and climate change were leaked.
The Liberal Leader said he accepted Mr Dragan's apology and there would be no further action taken.
Labor's candidate for Richmond has also been embroiled in controversy with her family claiming she is not Aboriginal.
Lauren O'Dwyer has described herself as a proud Yorta Yorta woman throughout her election campaign, but a member of her family has told the ABC she holds no such ties.
AAP has contacted Ms O'Dwyer and the Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation for comment.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit . In an emergency, call 000.
