Federal election candidate Richard Foley labels voters 'dumbest on this planet' By Rachel HoldsworthABC RiverinaTopic:Australian Federal Elections6m ago6 minutes agoFri 2 May 2025 at 4:19amWagga Wagga Councillor Richard Foley says the Inland Rail project should not cut through the city. (Emily Doak: ABC Riverina)In short: Riverina candidate and Wagga Wagga councillor Richard Foley labelled people in his electorate as the "dumbest f****" in a since deleted social post.The seat has long been held by Nationals member Michael McCormack, who condemned the comments.What's next?Mr Foley says he will continue to campaign for the seat of Riverina and remain on council.abc.net.au/news/federal-election-riverina-candidate-labels-voters-dumb/105242892Link copiedShareShare articleA federal candidate for the Riverina is standing by since-deleted social media comments in which he labelled people in the electorate as "the dumbest walking on this planet".Australian Citizens Party candidate and Wagga Wagga City councillor, Richard Foley, took to Facebook on Wednesday night, slamming people within the Riverina electorate over their voting behaviours."Honestly after standing on pre-poll booths for the past 10 days … the vast majority of this electorate are the dumbest f**** walking on this planet," the post said.Election essentials:Federal election live updates: Get the latest as the campaign winds upKey election promises from Labor and the CoalitionFind out where your nearest voting centre is and how to fill out the ballot paperThe post has since been deleted but Mr Foley confirmed to the ABC those were the words he used.Mr Foley said he made the comment in frustration"What I said comes from standing in the booth for 10 days, watching people vote again for their destruction," he said."It's not about an attack on people's intelligence, it's about people being lied to and distracted and being used."He said it was accompanied by a meme, which the ABC has been unable to independently verify, quoting the historical public relations figure Edward Bernays."The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized (sic) habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society," the meme said.No regretsMr Foley deleted the post but he said he did not regret it."If it shook people up well that's good, it means they are starting to wake up," he said."We've had 15 years of Michael McCormack and what do we have, we just get silence, we get nothing and I care too much to stay polite while the Riverina gets left behind."The Riverina is a safe National Party seat, with MP Michael McCormack securing 64 per cent of the vote in the previous federal election. Michael McCormack says responsibility falls on people to do the right thing and wear their seatbelt. (ABC Riverina: Emily Doak)Mr McCormack said Mr Foley's comments were offensive and derogatory."He's had a meltdown based on people not wanting to take his 'how to vote' cards at pre-poll booths," he said."You don't really know what people's voting intentions are until they actually get inside the ballot box."Read more about the federal election:Where the election will be won or lost for Labor or the CoalitionAdd up voters, candidates and pencils in the 2025 federal election numbers quizSee how your views align with the major parties with Vote CompassWant even more? Here's where you can find all our 2025 federal election coverageCatch the latest interviews and in-depth coverage on ABC iview and ABC ListenMr McCormack said he had delivered for the electorate over 15 years."Just look at this city alone, the levy bank, the PCYC, the Murray Darling Rural Medical School, the Museum on the hill," he said."I will continue to deliver and make sure I do turn up if I am re-elected."Mr McCormack said it was a matter for Mr Foley and the people of Wagga to decide whether he should step down as a councillor."They now know what he thinks about them," Mr McCormack said.Mr Foley said he would continue to campaign for the federal seat and remain a councillor.Posted 6m ago6 minutes agoFri 2 May 2025 at 4:19am, updated 3m ago3 minutes agoFri 2 May 2025 at 4:22amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesLittle-known entity comparing Dutton to Trump spends more than $400,000 on political Meta adsTopic:Australian Federal ElectionsPhoto shows A man in front of a billboard which says "the parties are the problem"Home owners far outnumber first-time buyers, so pollies ‘do the math’Topic:Property PricesPhoto shows A man outside his Qld home standing next to the fence at the front of the house'Stranded': Motorists describe chaos caused by scrap metal truck debrisTopic:Road Accidents and IncidentsPhoto shows A metal shard embedded in a tyreWhere the election will be won and lost — or left hangingTopic:Australian Federal ElectionsPhoto shows A stylised map shows Australia's 150 federal electorates as clusters of hexagons.Why Melbourne’s inner north has Labor worriedTopic:Federal GovernmentRelated storiesPosters of politicians and billionaires as Nazis slammed as 'vile'Topic:Australian Federal ElectionsPhoto shows A made-up poster showing Clive Palmer, Gina Rinehart, Peter Dutton and Michael McCormack in Nazi uniforms.Your pocket guide to voting in the 2025 federal electionTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A speckled pastel gradient background with two paper ballots in front of it. 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