Ross Vasta (Bonner, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last Wednesday, my staff and I arrived at work to find that my electorate office had been graphically vandalised. We are fortunate to live in a wonderful country and enjoy the freedoms that we do, but callous actions like these completely undermine our shared values. Thank you to all the many locals and community groups who have offered their support, as well as my council, state and federal colleagues.

Violence and vandalism are never okay, and the people who are responsible for this attack will be held accountable in accordance with the full force of the law. I deeply condemn the actions of those involved, and I'm working closely with our local police and the Federal Police to address this incident. Thank you to the Wynnum police, the Federal Police and everyone involved in the aftermath.

The clean-up and the new signage required will come at a great cost to Aussie taxpayers, most of whom will agree this is not how we have constructive discussions in our democracy. While it is becoming increasingly easy to find motives for distrust and divide, vandalism and intimidation are not forms of free speech. While I'm certainly not the first member to have been targeted, it is important that we do not normalise such behaviour. Enough is enough. Behaviour like this is un-Australian and has no place in Bonner and Australian society.