Animal activists vandalise Premier Jacinta Allan’s Bendigo office

Premier Jacinta Allan has slammed a group of vandals graffitied and smashed windows at her Bendigo office, calling the attack “disgraceful“ and “senseless”.

Animal activists have vandalised the Premier’s Bendigo electorate office overnight.

Premier Jacinta Allan on Thursday criticised a group of vandals who defaced her Mollison St office about 2.15am, calling the attack “disgraceful, senseless (and) destructive”.

Windows at the office appeared cracked on Thursday morning as if hit with an object, and the words “gutless”, “heartless”, and “spine(le)ss” were written in red and black on the building.

The Premier’s office on Thursday morning. Picture: Gianni Francis.

A statement from police said two people were believed to be responsible for the attack, which also included spraypainting inside the office.

One mark appears to indicate those responsible were involved with an animal activist group.

“Violence does not solve problems, violence does not resolve policy debates,” Ms Allan said.

“It’s disgraceful.”

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan says she is worried for her staff’s safety. Picture: Diego Fedele

The Premier called on the protesters to “come out into the daylight” and have a conversation instead.

Ms Allan said the activists left a “calling card” which identified them as the Animal Liberation Front.

It’s not the first time the office has been targeted. Picture: Gianni Francis.

She said the damage, which included smashed windows, was worse than the destruction left after an attack in February in which offenders threw a brick through the wiring window.

“It’s destructive, it’s violent and it’s completely, completely unnecessary,” she said.

Ms Allan said her main concern was for her staff members.

The office is now closed for ‘security reasons’. Picture: Gianni Francis.

Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell condemned the attack.

Ms Purcell called on the activists to fight for animals in the “public arena” in a respectful manner.

“Smashing in the offices of other politicians does nothing to help animals. In fact, it arguably sets us further back — distracting from the very real issue of animal suffering in this state,” she said.

“Our movement is one of non-violence, and we should be conducting ourselves in that way at all times. Not just to animals, but people too.

“I have reached out personally to the Premier to inform her that this behaviour is not accepted or tolerated by me as an Animal Justice Party MP.”

Smashed windows and graffiti on Jacinta Allan’s office. Picture: Gianni Francis

The attack comes just five months after protesters targeted the Premier’s office twice within the space of three weeks.

In February, the same group threw bricks with the words “gutless”, “spineless” and “heartless” through Ms Allan’s office windows and posted a video online of offenders smashing the front windows of the office before running off.

The caption for the video, which was posted on X, read: “The ALF visits Jacinta Allan’s office (again) in defence of water birds and in solidarity with Palestine”.

Police have confirmed they are investigating and are calling for anyone who may have knowledge or CCTV to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online.