Liberal volunteer allegedly bashed by man after election sign spat

A Blue Mountains Liberal volunteer was allegedly repeatedly punched in the head after stopping a man removing a Liberal candidate’s election sign.

A man has been charged with assault after a Liberal Party volunteer was allegedly bashed after a scuffle involving campaign corflutes in ultra marginal Macquarie.

Kevin Birch, 53, told police he was travelling with his family through the Blue Mountains town Lawson on Wednesday night when he spotted a man in a red jumper removing corflutes for Liberal candidate Sarah Richards.

The man, who was driving a white Nissan, ripped the sign out of the ground and threw it into the bushes, Mr Birch told police.

Mr Birch said he parked his car in front of the man and wound down his window and began filming with his phone.

Mr Birch told police when he confronted the man and told him it was vandalism, the man replied: “I don’t like Sarah Richards.”

A photo taken by an alleged assault victim during the incident at Lawson in the Blue Mountains. Picture: Supplied

Mr Birch said the man told him he would put the sign back if he would “let him out of here”.

Allegedly another man and a woman then arrived in another car, and Mr Birch claims he was punched in the side of the face through his open window.

Mr Birch told police a man in his early 20s in a white hoodie threatened to kill him but was being held back by a young woman.

After calling police and giving the number plates on both cars, Mr Birch alleges the man in the white hoodie continued to punch him in the head, knocking off his glasses.

After trying to pull the man’s hoodie over his face in defence, the other man and the woman allegedly assaulted Mr Birch.

The Liberal volunteer told police he was bruised on his right knee and ankle and suffered swelling and pain in his jaw.

Liberal candidate Sarah Richards, whose corflute the accused was allegedly trying to take down.

NSW Police said a young man was charged but another remains on the run.

“Investigations into the incident commenced and following inquiries, a 25-year-old man was arrested in Lawson today (Thursday May 12) and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault,” a police statement said.

The man was granted conditional bail and will face Katoomba Local Court June 6.

The seat of Macquarie, which includes parts of the Blue Mountains and the Hawkesbury River is held by Labor’s Susan Templeman on a 0.2 per cent margin.

Federal Labor Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Labor was contacted for comment.

Western Sydney senator Marise Payne condemned the violence.

“I am deeply concerned by these reports of violence against a Liberal volunteer in the electorate of Macquarie,” she said.

“Violence is always unacceptable and as part of an election campaign it is also damaging to the democratic process.

“While I will not comment on any matter that is being handled by the justice system, I would call on all Australians taking part in this campaign to conduct themselves peacefully and respectfully.”

Originally published as Liberal volunteer allegedly bashed by man after election sign spat