Geelong female council candidates publish open letter, call on Eddy Kontelj to condemn corflute attack

Twelve female council candidates, including three incumbent councillors, have published an open letter calling on Eddy Kontelj to distance himself from a well-known Geelong businessman.

Long-serving Geelong councillor Eddy Kontelj continues to cop heat over his association with a man who was caught on camera defacing the campaign material of a rival candidate.

Twelve female council candidates, including incumbent councillors Melissa Cadwell, Sarah Hathway and Elise Wilkinson, published an open letter on Friday condemning the actions of Tony Siketa.

Mr Siketa vandalised posters promoting Angela Carr, the sole female in the Hamlyn Heights field of four.

He was captured on camera defacing the Hughes St signs with a lighter, knife and marker pen.

Two days later, Mr Kontelj posted a photo on social media posing alongside Mr Siketa to promote a “meet and greet” outside Siketa Meats on September 28.

Mr Siketa’s actions, according to the open letter, “sent a message to women who put themselves forward in public to take on leadership roles for our community that their safety and wellbeing is at stake”.

“As Councillor Eddy Kontelj has been heavily promoted and endorsed by Mr Siketa, we call on Councillor Kontelj to condemn Mr Siketa’s alleged behaviour and actions, and to distance himself from both Mr Siketa and Siketa Meats,” it said.

One of Angela Carr’s damaged corflutes.

A day after Mr Kontelj told the Addy that Mr Siketa’s actions were an “error of judgement”, he addressed the matter on his Facebook page.

“After speaking with the Siketa family, I understand Tony is remorseful and regrets his actions,” Mr Kontelj wrote.

“However, I want to make it clear that I do not condone damaging anyone’s property under any circumstances.

“This kind of behaviour has no place in a democratic election, and I am disappointed that Angela Carr has had to experience this.

“Elections should be about respectful debate and offering voters a choice, not undermining one another with damaging tactics.”

Eddy Kontelj has been a Geelong councillor for well over a decade. Picture: Alan Barber.

The Greens’ Jess Harper and Joey Nicita issued a joint statement on Friday to denounce Mr Siketa’s “threatening” behaviour.

“Given the epidemic of violence against women that this country is currently facing, it is more important than ever for men to speak up and call out the unacceptable behaviour of other men,” Mr Harper said.

Mr Nicita is contesting the Hamlyn Heights ward against Mr Kontelj, Ms Carr and independent Mathew Hood.

Ballots will start landing in letterboxes next week.

Earlier: Councillor responds to corflute controversy

An “error of judgement” is how long-serving Geelong councillor Eddy Kontelj has described the behaviour of a supporter who was caught on camera defacing the campaign material of a rival candidate.

Mr Kontelj said he was unaware Bell Park butcher Tony Siketa had defaced corflutes belonging to Hamlyn Heights candidate Angela Carr until it was reported in the Addy on Thursday.

Mr Siketa, owner of Siketa Meats, was caught in a sting after Socialist Alliance representatives installed a camera on Hughes St after other posters promoting Ms Carr were stolen or vandalised.

Footage shows Mr Siketa attempting to set fire to one poster, as well as defacing it, about 7pm on September 25.

Two days later, Mr Kontelj posted a photo on social media posing alongside Mr Siketa to promote a “meet and greet” outside Siketa Meats on September 28.

Socialist Alliance has reported the damage to Victoria Police and the Victorian Electoral Commission.

It alleges Mr Siketa removed, cut out, burned and graffitied Ms Carr’s election posters along the Hughes St shopping strip between September 18-25.

Siketa Meats is located just one door up from the property at which the signs were erected with the owner’s permission.

Socialist Alliance candidate for the Hamlyn Heights ward Angela Carr. Picture: Alan Barber.

While describing the actions of Mr Siketa as unfortunate, Mr Kontelj strongly denied the behaviour was in any way misogynistic, as claimed by Ms Carr.

“Of course, it is not something that I condone … I think it was just an error of judgement,” Mr Kontelj said.

“Tony is a really good person and so is the Siketa family.

“They’ve contributed significantly to our community for the past 50 years, particularly in that multicultural sector of Bell Park and Bell Post Hill.”

Mr Kontelj said a dozen of his corflutes had been vandalised, including one that had a swastika drawn on his face.

“We could all go to Facebook and be disappointed about what’s happening,” he said.

“But what I try to do is run an honest campaign.”

Like many council candidates, Geelong councillor Eddy Kontelj has had several campaign posters defaced. Picture: Supplied.

Ms Carr is the only female among four candidates in the newly created ward.

She is up against Mr Kontelj, the Greens’ Joey Nicita, and independent Mathew Hood.

The Socialist Alliance candidate posted on social media Thursday morning that “these types of misogynist attacks against female candidates are disgusting and, sadly, all too common”.

“They decrease women’s feelings of safety of running in elections,” she said.

“However, I’m a tough and resilient woman.”

Tony Siketa and Eddy Kontelj promoting a meet and greet outside Siketa Meats. Source: Facebook.

Mr Siketa said he only defaced the poster once and claimed to have only used a marker pen despite footage showing him attempting to use a lighter.

He said he regretted his actions but added that he didn’t realise he had broken any laws.

Police confirmed they are investigating the matter.

Of the total 51 candidates who nominated for Geelong council, 23 are women.

Originally published as Geelong female council candidates publish open letter, call on Eddy Kontelj to condemn corflute attack