Glenorie: Nazi graffiti sprayed on United Australia Party Berowra candidate Christopher Martinic’s car

A political debate in Sydney’s northwest turned ugly when one candidate’s car was defaced with Nazi and fascist tags, while bandits targeted other candidates’ tyres.

United Australia Party Berowra candidate Christopher Martinic has criticised “small-minded people’’ who sprayed his car with red graffiti tags of ‘facist’ (sic) and ‘Nazi’ during a forum at Glenorie Memorial Hall on Monday night.

Tyres of five cars parked near Mr Martinic’s vehicle were deflated but his was the only car defaced, which he believed was because he had UAP material displayed inside the four-door hatchback, which was parked just outside Glenorie Public School when it was vandalised about 8.30pm.

Attached to the Hyundai Tucson was a note that said: “Your freedom relies on violence to others. F*** fascism!’’

Other candidates at the forum were One Nation’s Rhiannon Bosma, independent Benjamin Caswell, Australian Federation Party’s David James Louie and the Liberal Democrats’ contender Nicholas Samios, who were alerted to the incident about 90 minutes after the meeting started.

About 50 people attended the gathering, which was heavily promoted on social media and throughout the community’s small businesses. Mr Martinic said he did not have specific political enemies and his car was targeted because of its party signage.

“I think a lot of people have a bad opinion about the freedom parties,’’ he said.

“They wouldn’t know me from a bar of soap. I spent 35 years in the biomedical industry.’’

‘Nazi’ sprayed on Chris Martinic’s car.

Candidates at the forum say the vandalism was well planned.

“I think people who had to do this never had to struggle to survive or preserve democracy,” Mr Martinic added. “They’re really quite small minded people. I think their views of other parties are their own business.’’

Mr Samios believed the offence was not random and offenders knew where the candidates would be because the meeting was well promoted and the notes were left on the car.

“They called us fascists, which is a joke,’’ he said.

“If they had a beef, all community members could come in and have a say.’’

Ms Bosma was shocked and disgusted over the incident.

“I actually drove out of there rocked to the core that someone behaved that way,’’ she said.

“I’ve lived in that community all my life. I would bet anything that no one in the community would behave that way. It shocks me to the core.’’

The note left on cars parked near the forum.

United Australia Party’s Christopher Martinic.

The vandalism was reported to police but without witnesses and CCTV footage, there was little evidence for police to charge anyone.

“Glenorie’s a very, very quiet little place, especially at night,’’ Mr Martinic said.

“I didn’t think that sort of thing went on in Berowra.’’

Hornsby police were contacted for comment.

Fortunately for Mr Martinic, the spray paint could be removed.

Finding some humour in the dark situation, he mocked the offender’s “inability to spell” and asked his wife what she thought of his car’s new decor when he drove home.