A Queensland political candidate whose poster was defaced to resemble Adolf Hitler has come under fire after sharing an image of the graffiti to promote a German festival.
Far North Queensland LNP candidate for Barron River Bree James shared an image on Facebook on Saturday showing herself standing next to her defaced campaign banner.
The vandals had spray painted Mrs James’s upper lip to look like Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler’s toothbrush-style mustache.
Mrs James was smiling next to the defaced banner and used the image to promote the German Festival at the Cairns German Club.
“The German Festival will be held tonight at the German Club in Cairns until late into the night,” wrote Mrs James.
‘Live music, great German food and drinks, lots of fun for the whole family including free face painting!
“Even my banner comes alive and celebrates my German heritage.”
James’ post received an avalanche of backlash, with many criticizing the candidate for “celebrating” Germany’s dark history.
LNP candidate for Barron River Bree James has come under fire after she shared a photo of her defaced campaign poster showing a Hitler-style mustache to “celebrate” her German heritage.
Ms James deleted the post and apologized, claiming it was an attempt to “make light of the vandalism” and promote the German festival (Ms James (left) pictured at the festival with her mother (right)
Barron River member Craig Crawford called the Facebook post “troubling and strange.”
“There is nothing to celebrate about Hitler, Nazi Germany or the SS Death Squad,” Mr. Crawford told the courier mail.
“I would have taken down the banner in a matter of minutes. He left it that way for a week, then posted on Facebook about celebrating the “spirit” of that dark chapter in German history.
James deleted the post within minutes of sharing it on social media and also apologized.
He added that he deeply regretted sharing the post, which was an attempt to “make light of vandalism.”
“It was offensive, it wasn’t funny, I sincerely regret posting it and the post has been deleted.” “I am deeply sorry to anyone I have offended,” Ms James said.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms James for comment.
James had previously faced criticism after sharing a series of photos in December last year from a fundraiser he organized after Tropical Cyclone Larry in 2006.
The photos showed a man standing on a stage wearing an SS helmet alongside two other men dressed in military suits.