By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
CASEY Councillor Rosalie Crestani was last week chosen as the deputy president of the Rise Up Australia Party (RUAP).
Cr Crestani was appointed to the role – which has been formally vacant for roughly two years – in a unanimous vote at a RUAP national executive meeting held last Thursday night, and will work under the party’s president and controversial Catch the Fire Ministries pastor Danny Nalliah.
Cr Crestani has been a member of the RUAP since early 2013 and ran as candidate for the group in last year’s State Election, as well as the most recent Federal Election.
The RUAP uses the slogan, ‘Keep Australia Australian’, opposes gay marriage and also wants to remove the word multiculturalism from political debate and replace it with “multi-ethnic”.
Cr Crestani said she didn’t hesitate in taking on the role.
“My role won’t change a big deal, this will allow me to fill in for the president when needed,” Cr Crestani said.
“I feel a great sense of duty, and I will need to perhaps provide more time and service to the party.”
But Cr Crestani said the new role wouldn’t conflict with her council duties.
The announcement comes as Cr Crestani prepares to sit down for a dinner with South Eastern Metropolitan state Greens MP Nina Springle and the Islamic Council of Victoria after Ms Springle criticised Cr Crestani’s involvement in the recent Reclaim Australia rally in the city.
Ms Springle sent the invitation after criticising Cr Crestani for emceeing last month’s Reclaim Australia rally in the city, which turned violent when anti-Islam and anti-racism groups attempted to clash across police lines.
The dinner is expected to be held later this month or in early October.
