Sally Flannery’s flat vandalised after announcing council run

Sally Flannery says she fears for her safety after two attempted break-ins and toxic gendered abuse online after announcing her plans to run for council.

An aspiring politician in country NSW is questioning her desire to enter local government after her apartment became the focus of two attempted break-ins days after announcing her intention to run.

Marketing agency manager Sally Flannery says the toxic gendered abuse and attacks she has suffered since showing her hand to run as independent councillor for Lismore City Council exemplify why women are put off entering politics at a local level.

“I knew I’d open myself to abuse when I said I would stand but I didn’t expect this,’’ the 27-year-old prospective councillor said.

Aspiring Lismore politician Sally Flannery says has been abused and her property broken into since announcing her plan to run for council.

“Someone attempted to break into my apartment. (It) has left me questioning and I’ve sensed a real fear for my safety. I’ve been called nasty names, it’s personal and vicious.

“Women are already under-represented in politics, the harassment is toxic at federal and NSW parliaments and it’s the same at local level and it’s a real disincentive for women to enter local council.”

Police are investigating a break-in at Ms Flannery’s home at 12.30am on April 1, when a man smashed the glass front door of her property in Lismore CBD and ripped the mailbox off the wall. Officers are probing a separate incident last Saturday when a prowler jumped on her rooftop and stomped around at 12.30am.

Police are investigating an attempted break-in of prospective Lismore councillor Sally Flannery’s property.

Ms Flannery says the harassment began 24 hours after she announced her intention to run three weeks ago, when a man called her employer and left a message saying she should not run for council or she would face public humiliation and degradation.

In a separate incident, her male rival — who goes by the name Big Rob — humiliated her online for building an election platform “on having a vagina”.

The former kebab shop owner, 50, denounced Ms Flannery as a “Loony Leftie” for using menstrual blood to paint pottery artwork two years ago.