Documents obtained through Freedom of Information requests submitted by the Opposition have revealed the enormous cost of repairing damage cause to electorate offices by pro-Hamas activists.
The cost to the taxpayer for cleaning and repairs in the wake of pro-Hamas protests at just nine electorate offices was $117,907, in the nine months to 30 June 2024. This does not include the costs incurred to remedy the serious vandalism to the Wills electorate office earlier this week, nor the cost of cleaning the Deputy Prime Minister’s electorate office last December.
Opposition waste spokesman, James Stevens, condemned these acts, saying “it is appalling that Australian taxpayers are forking out hundreds of thousands of dollars to clean up the damage caused by these vile and bigoted stunts.
“We value freedom of speech and the right to peacefully protest in our democracy. The destruction of property with abhorrent slogans and symbols of hate are the antithesis of that.
“The actions of these extremist criminals should be categorically condemned by all political leaders.
“Sadly, the recent vandalising of the Australian War Memorial was defended by the Greens Party as an act of free speech. Desecrating a monument to those who died for our freedoms is blatantly a criminal act of cowardice and anyone defending it is unfit to serve in our nation’s parliament,” Mr Stevens said.
