Man, teenager charged with violent outbursts at Sydney pre-polling booths

Anthony Albanese has spoken out after a man was allegedly seen tearing up corflutes while a teenager has been charged with assault at pre-polling centres.

The Prime Minister has called for “respectful” behaviour at polling booths, after a number of recent incident including an alleged assault in his own seat of Grayndler.

A teenager has been charged with assaulting an elderly man and another man with intimidating volunteers in separate incidents at Sydney pre-polling stations.

“We’re a democracy. It’s important that people engage in a respectful way that includes people who are candidates, but includes everyone on polling booths as well,” Anthony Albanese told reporters on the campaign trail in Perth on Thursday.

“The police have to be allowed to do their work as for particular incidents.

“But can I say that for the person who was hurt in my electorate, my thoughts go out to him, and I hope that there is a very swift recovery.”.

A teenager has been charged after allegedly punching a 79-year-old man in the head at an Ashfield pre-polling centre.

The elderly man was transported to hospital in a serious condition.

Police allege a 17-year-old boy punched a 79-year-old man at the Ashfield Town Hall polling centre – in Anthony Albanese’s electorate of Grayndler – at about 1pm on Wednesday

NSW Ambulance treated the man for head injuries before he was transported to Royal Alfred Hospital, where he remains in a serious condition.

The teenager has since been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He was refused bail and is expected to face a children’s court on Thursday.

The alleged assault came only a few hours after another incident at a pre-polling booth in Sydney’s northwest.

It is alleged a man approached a group of polling volunteers in Bennelong at about 11am on Wednesday and began kicking down corflutes.

A man has been charged with intimidation after kicking down corflutes in Sydney’s northwest.

The man allegedly became aggressive towards volunteers at the pre-polling booth.

Police allege the man became aggressive towards the three volunteers at the booth, and intimidated a 32-year-old woman who was at the booth.

He allegedly also acted in an aggressive manner towards the other two volunteers before walking away, NSW Police say.

None of the volunteers were physically injured in the incident.

Police arrested a 30-year-old man at about 1pm on Wednesday, and he has since been charged with intimidation.

The man was granted conditional bail and is set to appear at Burwood Local Court on June 2.

An Australian Electoral Commission spokesperson said they were aware of and disappointed by the alleged behaviour.

“Both (alleged) matters occurred outside of the polling venues. Neither involved an AEC staff member and neither affected the continued operation of polling activities,” they said.

“The AEC has been consistent throughout the election in calling for lawful and respectful campaigning to occur. It’s disappointing to see any (alleged) violent or intimidatory behaviour.

“While the AEC is not, and cannot be, a police force we do have strong contacts to each state and territory police force through the Electoral Integrity Assurance Taskforce.

“This liaison assists with planning and potential response to incidents.

“Pleasingly, we’re not seeing widespread activity of this nature. Australian elections are celebrated for many reasons, one of which is the peaceful manner in which they are conducted.”

Originally published as Man, teenager charged with violent outbursts at Sydney pre-polling booths