Betrayed Australian Democrats have apologised to voters in the marginal seat of Sturt, after the last minute dumping of a candidate who lied about a cyber child sex offence.
The party has also asked voters not to lose faith in its other candidates, after discovering Darren Andrews had lied about having committed crime.
"We feel betrayed by Mr Andrews and are devastated by the news, because clearly it damages our whole campaign, but we ask voters to not lose faith in our other candidates," the party said in a statement on its website.
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"The party's assessment procedures include the asking of each candidate whether or not they have a criminal record and they are asked to sign a declaration to that effect.
"Mr Andrews told us verbally that he had no criminal record, and he duly signed the declaration."
The party said it had not faced a situation like this in 33 years of campaigning, and Mr Andrew's candidature for the group Dignity for the Disabled in 2006 led them to believe he was trustworthy.
"Mr Andrews committed a crime, but compounded the issue by lying to us.
"We apologise to the voters of Sturt."
Posters for Mr Andrews were pulled down around the lower house seat of Sturt in Adelaide on Thursday night.
Jeanie Walker, the Democrats' lead candidate in SA, said a criminal record excluded anyone from running in an election under federal rules.
