Michael Towke has claimed Scott Morrison “has form” on lying as he doubled down on allegations the prime minister was involved in a campaign of racial vilification against him in 2007.
Mr Towke was the former Liberal candidate for the seat of Cook, before he was disendorsed and replaced by Mr Morrison who went on to win the seat at the 2007 federal election.
Breaking his 15-year silence on those events, he told Nine newspapers in an interview published on Sunday that he completely stands behind that detailed the alleged tactics used by Mr Morrison to win support in a second ballot to decide the preselection candidate.
"[Scott Morrison] was adamant and explicit that a candidate of Lebanese heritage could not hold the seat of Cook, especially after the Cronulla riots," he told The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age mastheads.
Speaking on camera with the 10 Network on Monday, Mr Towke was prepared to make the allegation again.
When asked whether he honestly believed that the prime minister is racist, Mr Towke replied: “Well, he has certainly used race in the past, on several occasions.”
Mr Morrison has repeatedly and emphatically denied the allegations after the details were revealed publicly on Saturday in the Saturday Paper, following revelations from outgoing Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells earlier in the week.
He has described the allegations as "malicious slurs" and revealed to Nine newspapers he is prepared to sign a statutory declaration to combat the claims.
But the prime minister appeared to walk back the comments when questioned by reporters on Monday.
"(Court proceedings) is the only reason you would be required to do that - there's no court proceedings on any of those matters," he said.
"I've been very clear. I absolutely reject that as malicious slurs. I fully rejected those issues ... but more importantly, leaders of the Lebanese community have made their own statements and I think puts that matter to rest."
When asked by Network 10 whether he thinks Mr Morrison is lying, Mr Towke said, “I think it is pretty obvious he is. And he has got form on that”.
The Saturday Paper also revealed the contents of a second statutory declaration, signed in 2016 by Scott Chapman, a delegate in the preselection, who said he was told directly by Scott Morrison in 2007 "that there was a strong rumour about that 'Michael Towke is actually a Moslem' [sic]".
In his interview with Nine newspapers, Mr Towke, who is a Catholic, said Mr Morrison was "front and centre" of a racial vilification campaign targeting him.
“Amongst many unedifying tactics used to unseat me from my preselection victory for Morrison, racial vilification was front and centre and he was directly involved," he said.
“Racism is divisive, creating hate and hurt, and should have no place in Australian society.”
Liberal elder and Mr Morrison's direct predecessor as member for Cook, Bruce Baird, defended the prime minister's character, saying he never heard any racist comments, or allegations of bullying or dirty tricks.
"I'm not aware of any and I was as close as anybody to it," Mr Baird told the ABC.
"Yes, I am a friend (of Mr Morrison), and I'm doing it because this is the truth. I am not about spin, I'm just stating it like it is, and to claim as others have that Scott is racist and a bully I think is wrong."
On Sunday, Treasurer Josh and completely rejects the allegations of involvement in a racial vilification campaign.
"There is not a racist bone in Scott Morrison," Mr Frydenberg said in response to questions from SBS News while campaigning in Melbourne.
"The prime minister has categorically denied those allegations," he said, referring to Mr Morrison's previous response to questions during a press conference on Saturday.
Asked to reflect on why the claims against Mr Morrison are emerging now, Mr Frydenberg referred to an ongoing court case over NSW Liberal preselections.
"Well, obviously there's been issues with the New South Wales division. That has obviously led to some comments at this particular time."
Mr Morrison dismissed claims his management of a preselection stoush in NSW is a microcosm of his ability to lead, saying he is pleased with the candidates he installed in the state.
The federal Liberal body has overridden the state division to install a number of candidates for NSW seats ahead of the federal election.
A court challenge has been launched over the intervention but Mr Morrison would not comment on what would happen if the court overturned his picks.
"I'm very pleased with the candidates we've been able to select and I look forward to campaigning alongside them over the course of this election," he told reporters on Monday.
With AAP.
