Liberal candidate for the Canning byelection Andrew Hastie has slammed the media for targeting his family about their religious beliefs.
The former SAS soldier was on the hustings in Mandurah with former Prime Minister John Howard when he told a gathering of media he wanted to "address some questions about his religion".
Mr Hastie also wanted to put to bed question about his father - a Presbyterian priest - who is understood to have strong leanings towards creationism.
"Today I have some questions to answer about my religion," Mr Hastie said outside the Mandurah Forum shopping centre.
"I'm an Anglican and I make no apology for that.
"However questions have been raised to me by the media which focuses on my wife and my father and I think that is totally unacceptable.
"I won't go into what people ask me about him, because frankly it's not relevant."
Clearly emotional, Mr Hastie said he had no problem with "people coming after him". But he made it clear the media should not target him and not his family.
"The first one pertains to my wife with her work as a receptionist at the local church in Perth where we live close to SAS base," he said.
"In her responsibility as a receptionist in that office she uploaded blogs as published by the pastoral staff.
"A blog was posted in relation to the issue of homosexuality and Ruth was responsible for posting that, but she was not the author of it."
Mr Hastie said he was opposed to same-sex marriage.
But the 32-year-old said he was in favour of a popular vote on the decision.
"I have served with gay serviceman, I have served alongside Muslim soldiers in Afghanistan and I have proudly fought for the freedom of religion which we enjoy in Australia," he said.
"People should be free to express their views on this subject without fear or persecution."
Mr Hastie said he was not interested in questions about theology on the campaign trail anymore. He said the election was about the people of Canning.
"It's all about who will fight for the people of Canning and I believe I'm the best candidate for that," he said.
"So I wanted to address those issues with you and I believe I have done so."
Mr Howard said he thought Mr Hastie was a wonderful successor to Don Randall.
"Andrew's record for serving Australia stands very proudly and clearly for everybody to see," he said.
"I think he will be a committed, hard-working member for Canning and in parliament.
"I've heard a lot about what this byelection is about and it is overwhelmingly about the people of Canning and the needs and interests of the people of Canning."
