Sissy Austin: Greens hopeful hospitalised after Lal Lal attack

A young Indigenous activist and political hopeful has been violently attacked while jogging through a state forest. WARNING: Graphic image

WARNING: Graphic image

A Greens senate candidate and Indigenous activist has been hospitalised following a terrifying attack by an unknown man in a Victorian forest over the weekend.

Sissy Austin, 29, was jogging through the historic Blast Furnace Picnic Area in Lal Lal, near Ballarat, between 4.30pm and 5pm on Saturday when she was attacked by a man wielding a man-made weapon who knocked her unconscious.

When Ms Austin woke the offender had fled, Victoria Police said.

Sissy Austin, was attacked by a man with a man-made weapon. Picture: Sissy Austin / Facebook

Ms Austin, a Gunditjmara, Keeray Wurrung, Peek Wurrung and Djab Wurrung woman, wrote on Facebook that she had to get 4km back to her car after regaining consciousness and an ambulance took her to hospital.

“Went for a run on a beautiful day in Lal Lal Forest Ballarat yesterday. Before and after picture of being randomly attacked and knocked out,” said Ms Austin, a former member of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria.

“Had to get 4kms back to my car before I called police and an ambulance came and got me.”

Ms Austin, who ran for the Greens in the Senate in the 2022 federal election, was hospitalised following the attack. Picture: Sissy Austin / Facebook

“Home now from hospital but in shock with a massive throbbing headache.
“Women should be able to go safely for a f---ing run in this colony.”

On Tuesday, police said Ms Austin was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening facial injuries.

Ms Austin speaks while former federal Greens senator Lidia Thorpe watches on. Picture: Facebook

Police said the male offender was perceived to be caucasian, wearing black jeans, a cap but no shoes or shirt.

On Tuesday afternoon, Detective Senior Sergeant Tony Coxall said people who wanted to run in the area to “run in two” after the attack, according to 7 News. 

The report said Senior Sergeant Coxall described the suspect as “rough looking,” while police were not ruling out that the man could have been camping in the area or homeless.

“It’s all speculation. Was he laying in wait, did he pre-prepare it, was it just opportunity? I don’t know,” he said.

“There are possibilities,” he said.

Senior Sergeant Coxall said local police would be increasing their patrols of the local area as a result of the attack.

He said Ms Austin was still suffering “lingering concussion.”

“(S)he’s pretty battered and torn up to be honest.”

The Blast Furnace, about a two hour drive east-north-east of Melbourne, is a popular tourist attraction due to the presence of the original furnace, a relic from a late 19th-century attempt to smelt iron ore, among the native bushland.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.