An opposition politician has apologised for describing a government school building programme as a "holocaust".
Mark Banwell, a Liberal candidate, escaped being dropped by his party after making the comment during a TV interview.
"In probably a year's time, just what a holocaust this will be," he said, according to public broadcaster ABC.
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Banwell later called the comment an "inappropriate characterisation".
"As has been clearly established there has been massive waste and mismanagement in this programme," he said.
"In describing it I used a most inappropriate characterisation. I apologise for doing so. It was not my intention to cause offence, but freely acknowledge I have done so."
