Liberal volunteers for Greenway’s Rattan Virk accused of truck crash tampering

A man has been filmed tearing campaign signage from a crashed truck in Sydney’s west after residents raised complaints over potentially dangerous roadside ads.

Multiple men were been seen tearing campaign signage for Liberal Greenway candidate Rattan Virk from a truck crashed into the Quakers Hill Community Centre polling booth. Picture: Supplied

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Volunteers for Liberal Greenway candidate Rattan Virk have been accused of tearing campaign signage from a truck after it crashed into a polling centre.

A vehicle hired by the NSW Liberal Party to deliver “materials” to the Quakers Hill Community Centre crashed into the building on Monday afternoon, shutting down pre polling as it began on Tuesday.

Video and images acquired by The Australian show a man in a black shirt peeling signage from the truck displaying Ms Virk’s name and image, alongside party slogans and insignia.

“Officers from Riverstone Police Area Command attended a community centre on Lalor Road, Quakers Hill, regarding a crash involving a Pantech truck and an awning,” a NSW Police spokesperson said.

“As the crash met the minor traffic crash criteria, police will not be making any further investigation.”

In the video, the man can be seen tugging at the campaign signage along the truck’s right flank, with later imagery showing it had been significantly torn away from the vehicle.

Commenters in the local Facebook forum Stanhope Gardens & Surrounding Suburbs Community Group asserted he, and two other men alleged to have assisted him, were volunteers for Ms Virk.

Images before and after the crash match a truck bearing Ms Virk’s campaign signage to the one seen at the Quaker’s Hill Community Centre. Picture: Supplied

Multiple men were been seen tearing campaign signage for Liberal Greenway candidate Rattan Virk from a truck crashed into the Quakers Hill Community Centre polling booth. Picture: Supplied

“I watched them and went to the cops across the road,” one commenter said. “They caught them red handed in the act.”

“These guys were ripping off the rental truck labelling and planning to get out of there! They had their mates rock up in 3 brand new Mercedes to help cover up their actions.”

Ms Virk and the NSW Liberal Party provided a statement but did not say if the man had been a volunteer for the campaign or instructed to remove the signage.

“Yesterday, a truck delivering materials to Quakers Hill Community Hall dislodged a portico,” a campaign spokesperson said. “We sincerely regret any inconvenience this has caused for the local community. The local campaign proactively contacted the appropriate authorities and fully cooperated, following instructions when they arrived to assist at the Hall.”

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland holds Greenway on a 7.9 per cent margin. Ms Virk is the co-chairperson of the India Australia Strategic Alliance and has been a vocal Liberal supporter among Sydney’s Indian community.

“The fact that they tried to cover it up is the real problem here. Says a lot about the mentality of Rattan Virk that her campaign would instruct employees to do that,” another commenter said.

“If anyone was planning on voting at the Quakers Hill Community Centre pre poll tomorrow, it looks like it will be out of action for a while. Rattan Virk volunteers crashed into it this afternoon.”

The Quakers Hill crash was not the first election-time road incident to spark the ire of Greenway constituents. Last week, residents warned of multiple hazardously bright LED signs for Ms Virk placed along roadsides.

LED roadside advertisements for Rattan Virk have frustrated constituents who argue they obscure the vision of night-time drivers. Picture: Facebook

LED roadside advertisements for Rattan Virk have frustrated constituents who argue they obscure the vision of night-time drivers. Picture: Facebook

“These repeated installations — despite previous community feedback — are becoming a pattern of disregard for public safety,” an anonymous member of the Glenwood Community Group said.

Another posted: “Just went passed (sic) this and watched someone in front veer over the lane ahead and understood as I got closer and couldn’t see.”