Speaking at a rally in Melbourne on Saturday, Cumming said she wanted Andrews to be turned into "red mist" – referring to a term which describes someone who's been shot.
"I joined the Angry Victorians Party for one reason," she said in a speech to the crowd.
"To make Daniel Andrews turn into red mist."
"In the army we would call it pink mist, but I want him into red mist...
"Give anyone here in the army a job to blow someone up and they will."
Pink mist is a military term which refers to someone who has just been shot by a sniper.
Victoria Police confirmed to 9News.com.au they are investigating comments made at the rally.
"Police will investigate following a report of inciteful behaviour during a speech at a rally outside Flinders Street Station on 19 November," a spokesperson said.
"As the investigation is ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."
"My reference to red mist is the red shirts [scandal] ... to blow up corruption. You're asking me what I meant, and I know what I meant," she said.
While Cumming admits she could have expressed herself better and "expanded on what I meant", she says there was nothing wrong with her speech.
"The police were there at the steps of Flinders Street Station – if I did something wrong, I would have been arrested," she said.
Angry Victorians Party also issued a statement, with Cumming saying: "I can understand how some may have arrived at this interpretation, but I want to make it explicitly clear that I do not wish or call for any physical harm to come to Daniel Andrews."
"He and his red-shirts brigade need to be blown up this election – at the ballot box."
Addressing Cumming's comments Heston Russell, founder of the Angry Victorians Party, admitted it "definitely didn't look good" on first viewing but he believes Cumming "didn't mean actual violence".
"She'll have to be accountable," he said of the police investigation, in a video posted to Instagram on Saturday.
Adding of the incident: "never dull on the campaign trail".
In a separate and since-deleted Instagram video, still being shared on Twitter, Russell tried to diffuse the situation, saying: "A lot of people are angry, a lot of people are emotive, but we definitely need to bring it down a notch".
Derryn Hinch, whose party Cumming was a part of when she was elected, condemned the comments on Twitter and apologised for his part in helping her make it to parliament.
"I sacked her before she was even sworn in," he wrote.
"She was a former mayor who came recommended by people I trust. Her performance, like today, has been despicable.
"I am sorry."
Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy also hit out at Cummings.
"I condemn in the strongest possible terms remarks made by Dr Catherine Cumming today," he said in a statement.
"Statements and language like this have no place in our state, or nation. Dr Cumming should withdraw those remarks immediately and apologise unreservedly.
"It is incumbent on everyone participating in the State Election, from candidates to volunteers, to engage in this important process with respect."
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMitQFodHRwczovL3d3dy45bmV3cy5jb20uYXUvbmF0aW9uYWwvdmljdG9yaWEtZWxlY3Rpb24tMjAyMi1jYXRoZXJpbmUtY3VtbWluZy1kYW4tYW5kcmV3cy1waW5rLW1pc3QtY29tbWVudHMtaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQtbWVtYmVyLWxlZ2lzbGF0aXZlLWNvdW5jaWwvZGJjMzU4YmQtOGZmZS00YTkwLThiMDctNWQ5MjZiYjQ5MzU10gEA?oc=5
2022-11-19 15:25:22Z
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