Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce says he stands by a National Party candidate who said "one way to avoid domestic violence is to marry well" in a now-deleted social media post.
Kimberly Hone, who is standing in the northern New South Wales seat of Richmond, also told worshippers at a Pentecostal church her ultimate goal in politics was to "bring God's kingdom to the political arena".
The Guardian Australia also reported that she shared online articles describing transgender surgery as "mutilation".
"You can say what you like in this country, because people have fought and died for it," Mr Joyce said when asked about the comments.
"If you don't agree with someone's views that's also your right."
All political parties must have their candidates for the May 21 election locked in by Thursday, April 21.
Mr Joyce said he was not going to start a "pile on", echoing recent comments from PM Scott Morrison on his hand-picked candidate for the seat of Warringah, Katherine Deves, who has attracted controversy for her views on transgender people.
"I'm not going to start this pile-on of certain people because it's completely at odds with what we respect in this nation, which is your right of free speech," he said.
On average, one woman a week is murdered by her current or former partner, according to domestic violence prevention organisation Our Watch.
Labor Richmond MP Justine Elliot called for Ms Hone to be disendorsed.
"She may have deleted her Facebook posts, but Kimberly Hone can't delete the fact that she is reckless and a risk to our community's health, safety and security," Ms Elliot said.
Ms Hone responded to the reports of her previous comments on her campaign Facebook page, saying she was being attacked for her faith.
"So the Guardian, along with the incumbent Labor member and Greens candidate have said today that I don't deserve to run in any campaign because I have a faith," she said in a post.
Morrison continues to face questions on Warringah candidate
Mr Morrison has continued to face questions about his ongoing support for Ms Deves, after more posts emerged about her views on transgender people.
News Corp reported that in a September 21 tweet, Ms Deves said cross-dressing was "very common amongst sexual predators, even serial killers".
She also described two gay men having a baby as a "vanity project" and surrogacy as a "human rights violation".
Ms Deves apologised on multiple occasions last week, including after a video emerged in which she likened her campaign to stop transgender athletes from competing in women's sport to standing up against the Holocaust.
Mr Morrison said he continued to support Ms Deves when asked if his campaign had stopped her from speaking out on the issues during the campaign.
"Katherine Deves is passionate about the issue of women and girls in sport.
"The position she has set out on the issue is one that I think finds a lot of resonance with Australians who just want commonsense to apply in the situation and not to be turned into a broader debate about other issues, which I think distract from the main point, which is women and girls in sport and ensuring that that debate can be had sensitively and properly."
