Goat-sex SMS sinks candidate

THE NSW Liberal Party yesterday sacked its candidate for a key marginal seat after learning of an obscene group text message, involving a goat, which he sent to local councillors as a joke.

Brenton Pavier was dumped as the candidate for the must-win seat of Wyong after Liberal HQ learnt several people - one of them a woman - had received disgusting messages.

The dramatic action came less than 12 hours after The Daily Telegraph publicised the 46-year-old’s pursuit of romance on an online dating service.

As this photograph shows, he was sacked over the telephone by party office while on a “date” with this newspaper on the Central Coast.

In his SMS, Mr Pavier sent out a hoax message purporting to be from a video store, alerting customers they had outstanding videos. The list named bogus X-rated movies, one with a title involving indecent acts with a goat.

A dejected but defiant Mr Pavier admitted sending the text but claimed it was a harmless prank.

“If you can’t have a joke at Christmas time with your mates … it is un-Australian,” he said.

He said he would consider his options, including running as an independent.

The politically disastrous dumping four weeks before polling day has damaged the Coalition’s chances in Wyong - a volatile seat which it believed it needed and could win despite the 12.3 per cent margin.

Mr Pavier, once a Labor Party member who defected to the Liberals, learned of his dismissal while having coffee with The Daily Telegraph.

The meeting was interrupted at midday by a call from Liberal Party state director Graham Jaeschke.

Mr Pavier was overheard protesting: “It was a joke, you know - a joke. It was an SMS. I sent it to my mates. It had been sent to me and I forwarded it on to some of my mates. It was sent months and months ago.” He then asked: “Well, who has sent it to you? Do they have a name or is it anonymous?”

He finished the conversation with: “Well, let me know what you want me to do, Graham.”

He then said: “Since that story today people are now trying to dig up dirt on me and all this stuff is coming out.”

Mr Jaeschke was told of the text by an informant.

He immediately notified Liberal leader Peter Debnam, who said the text message amounted to unacceptable behaviour and disendorsed Mr Pavier immediately.

It is understood Mr Debnam didn’t wait to hear the contents of the message before saying he wanted him gone.

He moved quickly to limit the fallout and last night had already installed a new candidate, Ben Morton, a Federal Government adviser who has run in Wyong before.

“Although intended to be humorous, I do not believe it is appropriate behaviour for a candidate,” Mr Debnam said.

Last night Mr Pavier said he accepted the decision and: “I stand behind the newly elected candidate Ben Morton. I hope to have input into his campaign if called upon.”

The sacking came as the Independent Commission Against Corruption began an investigation into claims that South Coast councillor Gareth Ward pressured a developer to donate to South Coast Liberal MP Shelley Hancock’s campaign fund.

Mr Ward, 25, is accused of favouring a planning application in return for a political donation.

He strenuously denied any wrongdoing, saying it was political “mudraking”.

Mr Pavier’s dismissal came hours after publicity over his online search for love, which caused his  popularity on the Central Coast to soar overnight.

Mr Pavier had sent the offending text to friends over Christmas. It was passed on to fellow Liberal and Labor councillors.