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Video shows Trumpet of Patriots volunteer punched, kicked at early voting booth

Shocking footage of an apparent assault at an early voting booth is circulating across social media, with the attack aimed at a volunteer.

Shock violence hits Aussie election booth
NewsWire

An act of violence has marred an early voting booth.

In shock footage circulating across social media, a man can be seen punching and kicking a Trumpet of Patriots volunteer at the pre-poll booth in Pakenham in the Victorian electorate of La Trobe.

In another part of the footage, the man, wearing a maroon T-shirt and a helmet, says “we were built on multiculturalism”.

“These ads aren’t who what is Australia is about,” he says.

A Trumpet of Patriots volunteer has been punched and kicked at Melbourne Pre-Poll Booth. Picture: X
A Trumpet of Patriots volunteer has been punched and kicked at Melbourne Pre-Poll Booth. Picture: X

Witnesses intervene in the altercation between two men to try and calm the situation. The unverified video is edited and it is unclear how the altercation began.

The man in the maroon shirt also says “I can sue you, I can f**king sue you, and I will sue you.”

The man recording the altercation calls for a bystander to call the police.

Victorian Police said they were investigating the incident.

“Police are investigating an incident that occurred at an election pre-polling location in Pakenham on Thursday,” a police spokeswoman told NewsWire.

“Officers were told that an altercation occurred between two men in James Street about 11.10am.

“No one required medical treatment. A vehicle was also damaged.

“The exact circumstances are being investigated.”

The altercation happened in the morning on Thursday. Picture: X
The altercation happened in the morning on Thursday. Picture: X

The Trumpet of Patriots political party have been contacted for comment.

The video was posted to the X account of right-wing commentator Rukshan Fernando.

Independent Senator Ralph Babet decried the violence on social media and claimed Australia was “standing on the edge of political chaos”.

“The left has spiraled into extremism, their actions increasingly aggressive and intolerant,” he posted to X.

“They lack the ability to reason or engage with anyone whose views fall outside their narrow world view.

“Their rhetoric and actions have become dangerous, pushing us closer to a tipping point. With political and social division at an all-time high, the possibility of civil unrest is real.

“We are witnessing the breakdown of civility and reason. If we don’t reclaim our country, the future could very well see the rise of political terrorism, and with it, the risk of civil war within our lifetime.”

Duncan Evans
Duncan EvansReporter

Duncan Evans is a reporter for News Corp’s NewsWire service, based in Adelaide. Before NewsWire, he worked as a resources and politics reporter for The Daily Mercury in Mackay, Queensland and as a reporter at CQ Today, an independent newspaper based in Rockhampton. He was raised in Emerald and Brisbane and studied English Literature and American Studies at the University of Sydney. He began his career in journalism working for the Jakarta Post in Indonesia for over two years as an editor, translator and writer. He is fluent in Indonesian.

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/video-shows-trumpet-of-patriots-volunteer-punched-kicked-at-early-voting-booth/news-story/a8ee89a3f6ae3f73b27fab651a04b797