TERESA van LIESHOUT says she has been “betrayed” by Queensland billionaire Clive Palmer, who dumped her this week from his election team.

The Hilton local had been endorsed just two weeks ago by the Palmer United Party to run against Labor’s Melissa Parke in Fremantle. She was told by phone on Tuesday she’d been disendorsed as she, “wouldn’t toe the party line”.

Just days after her endorsement Ms van Lieshout had told the Herald Mr Palmer had told her he had been personally “privy to many conversations, where Tony Abbott openly degraded women, in personal conversations, in party lunches, dinners, and events”.

The Herald contacted the PUP office seeking to speak to Mr Palmer to ask whether he backed up Ms van Lieshout’s claim, but we were never put through. Following our questions, Ms van Lieshout was disendorsed.

Ms van Lieshout—who has since been endorsed by the anti-refugee Australian Protectionist Party—says the PUP will regret its decision. “I feel hurt, insulted, and betrayed,” she said.

Ms van Lieshout ran as an independent in Willagee in March, garnering 361 votes.

by BRENDAN FOSTER