Barclay McGain

Barclay Thomas McGain (born April 2, 2000)is the former chairman of the Gold Coast Young LNP branch. He has occasionally written for The Spectator Australia, Australian Taxpayers' Alliance, and Caldron Pool.
Early life
McGain is a student of University of Queensland. In 2016, he went to study in America for one year as an exchange-student. McGain is a member of the Queensland University Liberal National Club (UQLNC).
Schoolies video
In December 2019, McGain faced controversy after a video was released on the Young Liberal's Facebook page. The video showed McGain interviewing young adults at random during Schoolies week. In one interview McGain is shown laughing as a fellow teenager, and young liberals member, criticized Aboriginal Australians for not being able to "even invent the bloody wheel".
McGain initially declined to comment on the video, which was widely condemned. Leader of the Queensland Opposition Deb Frecklington apologized on behalf of the university club. McGain was suspended from his role as club leader, pending further internal investigation. An LNP spokesman told the Guardian Australia that in June 2020, McGain resigned voluntarily from the party. In September 2020, McGain was seen campaigning for the party. McGain returned to his office in January 2021 after being suspended for six months.
Drag Queen Story Hour
In January 2020, McGain with several other members of the Queensland LNP faced backlash for heckling performers at a Drag Queen Storytime Event, held for children in Brisbane on January 5. The group consisting of 15-20 members chanted, "drag queens are not for kids."
Kyle Rittenhouse
In December, 2021, McGain came under severe criticism over a photo he posted on November 27 on social media dressed as Kyle Rittenhouse, the then 17-year old teen who killed two Black Lives Matter protestors in August 2020. McGain was holding a blaster gun, which supposedly bore resemblance to an assault rifle. The photo's caption read, "Kyle Rittenhouse on neighborhood watch duties in Brisbane’s south tonight," with the accompanying hashtag "#NotGuilty."
McGain was heavily criticized for supposedly glorifying and commending Rittenhouse's actions.
A federal government spokesman from the PM's office condemned the incident. MP Laming's office initially declined to comment.<ref name":13" /><ref name":14" />

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