Anti-Semitic abuse of Mackellar MP Jason Falinski in lead-up to Federal Election

The battle for the federal seat of Mackellar has turned nasty with defaced posters, anti-Semitic abuse and even a nail driven into a candidate’s car tyre.

Jason Falinski finds a nail in his tyre.

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THE battle for Mackellar has turned nasty with defaced posters, anti-Semitic abuse and even a nail driven into a candidate’s car tyre.

Much of the foul play has been targeted at sitting MP Liberal Jason Falinski who earlier in the campaign found two of his posters daubed with swastikas.

Mr Falinski, who lost members of his family in the Holocaust, decided to speak out about the abuse after witnessing other Jewish candidates being targeted.

A defaced poster of Jason Falinski.

Mr Falinski’s family fled their native Poland when Hitler invaded in 1939. They later fled communist oppression in the 1950s and emigrated to Australia.

“It is deeply hurtful, especially for my father,” Mr Falinski said. “It is clearly targeted. I wasn’t going to respond but now that other candidates have also been targeted, it’s just appalling.”

Treasurer Josh Frydenburg and Julian Leeser MP, both of whom are Jewish, have also been targeted with anti-Semitic abuse.

A number of other Falinski posters have also been targeted with threats and crude images and others have been torn down.

There was further evidence of foul play on the northern beaches on Monday morning when Mr Falinski found a nail in the tyre of his car which was parked on the driveway of his home.

Independent candidate Mackellar Alice Thompson has also had her posters ripped down. Picture: (AAP IMAGE / Troy Snook)

He took it to a mechanic who said it appeared the nail has been driven in straight which indicated a deliberate act.

Mr Falinski is not the only MP to have been the victim of foul play in Mackellar with Independent Alice Thompson also having her posters ripped down.

“Right from the start of the campaign we’ve had a high attrition rate,” she said.

“It is frustrating because it is an important way for me to get my profile out there.”

She said while some of it could be down to kids there were signs of it being politically motivated.

“Cable ties have been cut which suggests some premeditation,” she said.

Northern Beaches Council has also said it has received complaints about campaign posters being illegally tied to council infrastructure.

A spokeswoman said rangers would act on any complaints received, adding rangers had removed a number of election posters.

“Of course, Council treats all election signage equally regardless of candidate or party,” she added.