Police called to Brunswick polling booth after alleged physical altercation

Police have been called to a Brunswick voting centre following an alleged physical altercation between a Labor volunteer and a Muslim Votes Matter activist.

Police have been called to a polling booth in Melbourne’s inner north following an alleged physical altercation between a Labor volunteer and a Muslim Votes Matter activist over Palestine.

Tensions escalated at the Wills early voting centre in Brunswick on Saturday after a sign was displayed by Muslim Votes Matter calling Labor candidate Peter Khalil a Zionist and showing an edited image of him in an Israeli-flag tracksuit.

“Peter Khalil went on a Zionist lobby trip,” the sign read.

“Don’t let him take you vote for granted any longer.”

The sign was official campaign material authorised by Muslim Votes Matter.

The Herald Sun understands a grey van branded with posters for One Nation candidate Bruce Stevens parked in front of the sign in an apparent attempt to block it from public view.

The van was then moved and replaced with a grey car, which Muslim Votes Matters and pro-Palestine activists allege was a Labor staffer’s vehicle.

In an apparent further attempt to block the sign, a Labor steel A-frame sign was carried over by a volunteer.

After an alleged physical incident between the Labor volunteer and a Muslim Votes Matter activist, the police were called.

The sign was displayed by Muslim Votes Matter, calling Peter Khalil a Zionist. Picture: Supplied

The Muslim Votes Matter activists have alleged Labor exaggerated the incident as a way of calling the police so they could remove the sign.

In a video on Fatima Payman’s Instagram account police can be seen talking to witnesses about the incident.

In the video, Ms Payman said that there was nothing that warranted the police to be involved. These were just activists who wanted to put their sign up.

An email sent to candidates by the AEC and seen by the Herald Sun warned candidates to treat each other with respect after reports of physical and verbal altercations.

The communication acknowledged passion and strong beliefs amongst parties and campaign workers, but urged them to treat each other with respect in their public interactions.

An AEC spokesperson told the Herald Sun that they had spoken to the parties and candidates about the altercation and reminded them to act with civility at all times.

“This incident occurred outside the 6m zone, which is outside of the area the AEC legally controls,” the spokesperson said.

“Anyone who feels threatened or witnesses potentially criminal behaviour outside of an AEC polling place should report it to the police.”

Brunswick voting centre. Picture: Supplied

The sign of Mr Khalil was returned to the voting booth on Monday morning, with Muslim Votes Matter activists hanging it up across from the Brunswick Masonic Center.

Mr Khalil said in a statement that he was aware of the incident responded to by police.

“The safety of my staff and volunteers is my highest priority.

“I encourage everyone to conduct themselves respectfully regardless of political views,” he said.

The booth was briefly attended again by two officers just before 12:00pm on Monday.

The real estate available for signage is a hot commodity at the voting booth with Labor and Green signs forming a wall around the hall.

A sign for Liberal candidate Jeff Kidney was seen strewn on the ground behind the other party’s signs. The hotly contested seat was packed on Monday morning as Wills votes got their polling in early.

Candidates from the Greens, Labor Party, Fusion Party and One Nation were all there in person, handing out how to vote cards and talking to voters.

Originally published as Police called to Brunswick polling booth after alleged physical altercation