Islamic Society criticises 'competition' to attack Muslims as SA Liberals stand by candidate
Carston Woodhouse (bottom left and right) made the comments on the ElijahFire podcast. (YouTube: ElijahFire)
In short:
Liberal candidate Carston Woodhouse called Islam "poisonous" and "wrong" when he appeared as a guest on an American podcast last year.
A group representing South Australian Muslims says the opposition leader needs to reject "this kind of hate speech".
What's next?
Mr Woodhouse's Labor opponent says he should be disendorsed.
The Islamic Society of South Australia has criticised the Liberal Party and One Nation for what it says is a "competition" to attack Islam "more harshly in order to gain political support" ahead of the state election.
It comes after the ABC revealed a Liberal candidate in Adelaide's north-eastern suburbs, Carston Woodhouse, said on an evangelical Christian podcast that "Islam is poisonous" and "wrong".
Last week, One Nation's lead candidate, Cory Bernardi, said he agreed with the sentiment of the party's federal leader, Pauline Hanson, when she said there were no "good" Muslims.
The Islamic Society of South Australia runs mosques in Adelaide and regional towns. (ABC News: Sarah Mullins)
The Islamic Society of South Australia issued a statement on Facebook on Wednesday night, saying Mr Woodhouse's language in particular was "deeply offensive, irresponsible, and has no place in the public discourse of a diverse and multicultural society like South Australia".
"We are increasingly witnessing a disturbing pattern during election periods where Islam and the Muslim community are used as a political campaign tool. Some candidates appear willing to exploit fear and division in an attempt to mobilise votes," the statement went on to say.
"It is unacceptable that right-wing political rhetoric is turning into a competition between some candidates and parties, particularly between elements of the Liberal Party and One Nation, over who can attack Islam and Muslims more harshly in order to gain political support.
"This type of politics is dangerous and irresponsible. It risks normalising hostility toward an entire community and undermines the social cohesion that South Australia has worked hard to build over many decades.
"We therefore call on the leader of the South Australian Liberal Party, Ashton Hurn MP, to provide a clear position on these remarks and demonstrate strong leadership in rejecting this kind of hate speech. Political leaders have a responsibility to set the standard for respectful public debate and to ensure that candidates representing their parties do not promote division or hatred."
Liberal Wright candidate Carston Woodhouse made several comments on American podcast ElijahFire. (Supplied: SA Liberal Party)
Candidate opposed Nazi salute ban
Along with his comments against Islam, feminism, same-sex marriage and "the trans agenda", Mr Woodhouse's Labor opponent — Education and Police Minister Blair Boyer — showed the media on Thursday comments the Liberal candidate had made opposing a 2024 ban on the Nazi salute and swastika in South Australia.
The ABC has verified Mr Woodhouse told the ElijahFire podcast in February 2025 that it was the "most draconian anti-free speech law I've ever seen in Australia and possibly anywhere in the West".
"Even if it's unintentional, then you can be criminally held accountable for that, with minimum sentences attached to that," Mr Woodhouse said.
"So if something can be interpreted as a Nazi salute, there's a minimum one-year and a maximum seven-year sentence just for that, which is crazy, you know, like you scratch your head the wrong way or something like that."
Shadow Treasurer Ben Hood said he was not aware of the comments.
The Liberal Party has been contacted for comment.
Labor minister Blair Boyer holds his seat with a 12 per cent margin. (ABC News: Daniel Taylor)
How far can opinions go?
On Wednesday, Ms Hurn said Mr Woodhouse — a Liberal Party employee — would remain as the candidate for Wright even though she did not share his views.
Ms Hurn was responding to the comments Mr Woodhouse made in regards to same-sex marriage and feminism.
"At the end of the day, he is our candidate," Ms Hurn said.
"I'm not going to stop someone from having an opinion."
Ms Hurn has not commented since the ABC exclusively aired further comments from Mr Woodhouse about Islam and the transgender community.
Earlier this morning, Mr Boyer said Mr Woodhouse should be disendorsed and questioned what views a Liberal candidate would have to have to be removed from contention.
"Surely there is a line that exists somewhere,"he said.
"Surely that doesn't apply to all views and Ashton Hurn needs to tell us exactly where that line is now."
Greens MLC Robert Simms agreed Mr Woodhouse should be disendorsed, including for his views on feminism, same-sex marriage and what he called the "trans agenda".
"These views are abhorrent, they're deeply offensive and they should disqualify this person as a Liberal candidate," he said.
Mr Hood told ABC Radio Adelaide the Liberal Party does not "police" the religious views of its candidates and they did not come into play when vetting candidates.
"We welcome people of all faiths and people of no faith at all in this party of ours and as long as they are very to obviously keen to promote our policies, their religious beliefs have no bearing," Mr Hood said.
The Liberals' Ashton Hurn and One Nation's Cory Bernardi. (ABC News: Sophie Landau/Daniel Taylor)
The Liberals have placed One Nation fourth on their how-to-vote cards in Wright, while Labor has the party's candidate in last position.
The Islamic Society also called for religious vilification and hate speech laws to be introduced in South Australia.
Early voting begins on Saturday ahead of the election on March 21.