CCTV reveals Lib MP office trashed by Voice supporter

A South Australian voice supporter has been charged after allegedly trashing a Liberal MP’s office, attacking the No campaign as ‘bulls...’ and verbally abusing female staff.

South Australia Police confirmed they arrested a 61-year-old Millicent man on Monday after being called out to a disturbance at federal Liberal MP Tony Pasin’s Mount Gambier office last Thursday.

A voice supporter has been charged after ­allegedly trashing the office of federal South Australian Liberal MP Tony Pasin, ­attacking the No campaign as “bullshit” and verbally abusing ­female staff in front of a 15-year-old work experience student.

The Australian has obtained CCTV vision of the man entering the Mount Gambier electorate office, before allegedly berating the two female staffers, and shoving piles of flyers off the reception front desk.

Following reports of a disturbance last Thursday, police dusted for fingerprints and patrols searched the area but were unable to locate the man.

A South Australia Police spokeswoman said “a man was reported to enter an ­office and yell at staff, acting in a disorderly manner”. He was caught on Monday, charged with disorderly behaviour and bailed to appear at the Millicent Magistrates Court on October 25.

Mr Pasin said his staffers were “left shaken and fearing for their safety”. He linked the incident to the referendum on a voice to ­parliament after the man allegedly shouted obscenities including that the No campaign was “bullshit”.

Ahead of Anthony Albanese announcing the referendum date at the Yes23 campaign launch in Adelaide on Wednesday, Mr Pasin said he was “appalled at the behaviour” and urged the Prime Minister and Yes23 to “condemn the actions”.

“Difference of opinion is perfectly OK. Voicing an opinion to your local MP on an issue is welcomed, but abusing staff, using ­offensive language and trashing a commonwealth office is not on,” Mr Pasin said.

South Australian federal Liberal MP Tony Pasin says ‘using offensive language and trashing a Commonwealth office is not on’. Picture: Kym Smith

The Barker MP said the man allegedly called his staffers “f..king idiots” before trashing the front reception area, which is cordoned off by security screens.

“No one should be left second guessing the safety implications of stepping out to get lunch, and unfortunately that’s now what my staff are doing,” he said.

“I’m asking both the PM and Yes campaign – call this behaviour out. It’s not good enough. Our community is becoming increasingly divided and disrespectful and it needs to stop.”

Yes23 campaign director Dean Parkin said “with respect to the allegations that have been ­reported, we condemn those ­behaviours”.

“Our Yes23 campaign is committed to respectful debate and we encourage all sides to do the same,” Mr Parkin said.

A spokesman for Mr Albanese referred The Australian to his previous comments about the need to engage in respectful ­debate ahead of the referendum.