New South Wales police have launched multiple investigations in the last week into alleged violence, intimidation, harassment and antisocial behaviour related to the election, including the smearing of poo across a truck carrying an ad for the Liberal party.
Political parties have also reported arson threats against campaign offices and alleged attempts to intimidate diaspora communities into voting for their candidate by referencing historical figures linked in crimes against humanity in Afghanistan.
The misconduct and alleged criminal behaviour has led the electoral commissioner, Jeff Pope, to condemn “isolated instances of aggression, intimidation and potential violence near prepoll venues [that] are not in keeping with Australian democratic values”.
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In the NSW electorate of Eden-Monaro, aLiberal partyvolunteer was horrified to find a truck with a campaign ad attacking Labor’s policy on vehicle emission standards smeared with poo, including on door handles. A NSW Police spokesperson confirmed it has launched an investigation into the alleged “intentional damage”.
ACoalitionoffice in Eden-Monaro received a hand-written letter on Sunday warning: “If this office opens again it will be burnt to the ground!!!! Fuck you”. A Liberal party spokesperson said local staff were urged to take the matter seriously. Police confirmed it is now being investigated.
In the ultra-marginal seat of Bennelong in Sydney, a video seen by Guardian Australia shows a man kicking, throwing and removing Liberal signs for its candidate, Scott Yung. The man is also filmed screaming abuse at Liberal volunteers before pointing a finger at one and pursuing him.
A NSW police spokesperson confirmed a 30-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday afternoon, hours after the incident. He was subsequently charged with intimidation and granted conditional bail.
In the Hunter region seat of Paterson, a Labor-held marginal, the Liberals have alleged a man shoulder-charged one of its volunteers at a polling station. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon. A police spokesperson confirmed an investigation has been launched into the alleged assault.
The Liberal candidate in the seat of Grayndler, held by Anthony Albanese, has had his campaign corflutes spray-painted with swastikas. Earlier this month, Greens corflutes were also defaced with swastikas.
A video uploaded to Facebook on Thursday afternoon showed a Trumpet of Patriots volunteer being kicked and punched by a man wearing a bike helmet. The man’s identity is not known, but the video shows him raising frustrations about the party’s ads and its immigration policies.
On Thursday a Greens volunteer in the seat of Kooyong, Eliza, told Guardian Australia a Liberal volunteer forcefully grabbed her arm during a disagreement about where to place campaign signs.
Labor has also referred its own allegations of wrongdoing to authorities for investigation. The party has raised concerns about the alleged “disturbing and intimidatory behaviour” of Liberal volunteers in the Victorian seat of Bruce.
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A letter sent to the commission on Thursday alleges one Liberal volunteer referenced the name of the former emir of Afghanistan Abdur Rahman Khan in exchanges with Pashtun and Hazara Australian voters. Bruce has one of the largest Afghan diasporas in Australia.
Labor alleges the volunteer told people that a vote for anyone other than the Liberals would betray Khan, and called for him to be “brought back”. Khan is linked to the Hazara genocide in the late 1800s.
“I am concerned that the reason Liberal volunteers are invoking Abdur Rahman Khan’s name is to harass and intimidate members of the local Hazara community,” said the letter to the commission from Jett Fogarty, an AustralianLabor partyofficial.
Pope said that campaign activities are a very important part of the federal election process, but “lawful activities are a must, and respectful behaviour is a firm expectation”.
“The AEC is not a police force and does not have jurisdiction to undertake conflict resolution or get in the middle of a dispute outside our polling places,” Pope said.
“However, we do have close relationships with local police forces around the country who are closely monitoring activities.
“In some areas, the AEC has written to candidates and branches of registered political parties to alert them to the reports being received and to remind everyone of the right for voters to have a comfortable voting experience.”