The Brisbane father who sparked pre-election outrage when he questioned a Labor MP about the treatment of his disabled son has since admitted he lied.
Robert Murphy made headlines when he spoke of the failings of the health system at a public forum for political candidates two days before the August 21 federal election.
He quizzed Labor MP Jon Sullivan, from the seat of Longman, north of Brisbane, about the two-year delay he and his wife endured in order to get specialist treatment for his six-year-old son.
In a gaffe that Bob Hawke said had cost Labor the seat, Mr Sullivan replied: "What parent would wait two years to get a child, who they believe has a disability, to get to a specialist?"
Mr Sullivan lost his seat to 20-year-old Wyatt Roy after holding it by a 1.9 percent margin.
Mr Murphy has since spoken out about why he lied, The Australian reports.
"I was a little bit confused when I spoke up, and what I said was stupid," he said.
Mr Murphy, an unemployed factory hand, was quoted as saying that his son was never waiting on a list for treatment.
This is despite telling the public forum two weeks ago: "It's taken two years for my son — to take him to the doctor and get him diagnosed — because we don't have the money to actually go and pay for a specialist to get him diagnosed so he can get the proper help that he needs at school".
He admitted that he made the comment because he was frustrated that he feels his son has never been properly diagnosed and as a consequence the boy’s school cannot get funding for special attention.
"If I could turn back time and take back what I said, I would do it," Mr Murphy was quoted by the Australian as saying.
Mr Murphy, a Labor voter, is worried that he may be blamed for Labor's demise if they fail to make it into government.
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