Victorian Liberal Party distances itself from candidate Renee Heath over church links

The Victorian Liberal Party has distanced itself from one of its top upper-house candidates over her links to a conservative church, saying she will not sit with the party after the election.

Renee Heath, the candidate for Eastern Victoria, is a senior member of the conservative City Builders Church.

In September, an ABC Regional Investigation revealed concerns from members in Gippsland that local branches were being stacked with members from Pentecostal groups, including the Sale-based City Builders Church, to influence preselections.

In October, a subsequent ABC investigation highlighted how Brian Heath, Renee Heath's father, called on his congregation to "produce the next generation of godly leadership" and was vice-president of the Liberal Party's Morwell state electorate conference branch.  

Ms Heath has declined repeated requests for an interview but said in a previous statement: "I am not my father. To suggest that I am is offensive, as it belittles me."

She has publicly affirmed her belief in the separation of church and state.

Nine newspapers on Saturday detailed allegations from Ms Heath's family members that she was acting for an agent for the church inside the party.

The newspapers reported that lawyers acting for Ms Heath and her father "categorically denied" support for gay conversion therapy, discrimination against non-heterosexual people or engaging improperly in politics

Ms Heath was preselected for the top of the Liberal Party's ballot, so is almost guaranteed to be elected after the November 26 vote.

It is too late to disendorse Ms Heath but following the articles, Mr Matthew Guy said she would not sit in a party room under him, saying she would be a "Liberal independent".

He said neither he, nor the Liberal Party, was aware of allegations until it was published in the newspapers.

But Steve Holland, the recently elected mayor of the Mornington Peninsula, refuted that statement.

Mr Holland, a Liberal Party member for over a decade, said that included members of parliament and senior office holders.

"Of course people knew and they have known for some time," he told the ABC.

In May last year, Victorian Nationals Leader Peter Walsh said he was aware that members of the church group within his party were in favour of gay conversion therapy.

The church has branches in Sale, Newborough and Narre Warren South.

The ABC has again attempted to contact Ms Heath for comment on Saturday.

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