LABOR is standing by a candidate convicted of assaulting a police officer, after he was accused of keeping his criminal history secret from voters and his party
Eddie Hughes, the party’s candidate for Whyalla-based seat Giles, received a seven-day suspended prison sentence after he was found guilty of assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and loitering in 1983.
Mr Hughes is still eligible to assume a seat in parliament. If the same crime was committed today, however, under harsher penalties brought in by the Labor Government he may have been struck off the ballot paper.
When contacted about the conviction yesterday, Mr Hughes said “that’s interesting” and said he would get back to The Advertiser, however, the call was not returned.
Senior Labor figures contacted yesterday were unaware of the crime, which occurred in the early hours of the morning outside a Whyalla hotel.
The Labor Party released a statement last night that named Mr Hughes and defended his character.
ALP SA branch secretary Reggie Martin said Mr Hughes had spent much of his life serving the community.
