Earlier today, The Australian reported on some inappropriate and offensive tweets that I made around two years ago. Some of the tweets have been stripped of all context.

The tweets had been deleted from my account a long time ago.

There has been no suggestion of any wrongdoing or impropriety during my time as an endorsed candidate. 

I am sure everyone has said things that, on reflection, we wish we had not said – regardless of the context.

I am deeply embarrassed and ashamed of the language I used in these remarks.

I am not a homophobic person. I regret using this juvenile language and understand the offense that it has caused. I apologise unreservedly.

This afternoon, I made the decision to resign as a Liberal candidate for Western Victoria region at the upcoming Victorian election. This was an extremely difficult decision.

However, as a committed member for the Liberal Party for over a decade, I chose to put the Party’s interests above my own. 

I know that the best thing for Victoria would be the re-election of the Napthine government, and I do not want distract from that.