Campaign signs for Bayswater state Liberal MP defaced with Nazi symbol

SWASTIKAS, four-letter words and more have been used to deface a state election candidate’s signs and attack the right to free speech.

Bayswater MP Heidi Victoria's election signs, put up by her supporters at their homes, have been vandalised with Nazi symbols, four-letter-words and more. Picture:Ian Currie

A LIBERAL candidate in Melbourne’s east says she is fed up with the repeated defacing of her election material with swastikas, four-letter words and more.

Bayswater state Liberal MP Heidi Victoria said unknown offenders had been targeting her campaign signs for the past month, with signs being defaced with spray paint or cut into pieces.

“It is disappointing and it is illegal,” Ms Victoria said.

“A swastika is one of the most appalling things you could ever draw.

“Some of the words have been choice and you can’t even print them.”

Ms Victoria said the perpetrators had repeatedly trespassed on the property of an elderly Heathmont woman to gain access to the signs on her property.

“She was distressed that people have been on her property, uninvited, to conduct wilful damage,” she said.

“This is quite worrying for all the people who are willing to have signs in their home.”

Ms Victoria said police were aware of the vandalism, which she described as a blight on Australian democratic values.

“This is quite worrying for all the people who are willing to have signs in their home.” — Heidi Victoria

“The other reason this is really disappointing is that we pride ourselves in Australia as being a free country and democratic society,” she said.

“We’re now a very open society and for somebody to put a sign up that is obviously political, well, good on them for having their say, no matter which party they are supporting.”

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.