Police investigate ’racist and homophobic’ vandalism of Bellarine election candidate’s posters

A Bellarine state election candidate has slammed the “vile” targeting of his corflutes with “racist and homophobic” vandalism.

A Bellarine state election candidate has slammed the “vile” targeting of his corflutes with “racist and homophobic” graffiti, with police investigating the vandalism.

Bellarine Liberal candidate Donnie Grigau said up to nine of his election posters were targeted in Queenscliff last week, including the drawing of swastikas, penises and messages labelling him a racist.

Mr Grigau, who is homosexual and of Asian background, said the targeting of his corflutes was a form of “abuse”.

Bellarine state Liberal candidate Donnie Grigau. Picture: Peter Ristevski

“The other day I went out to check my corflutes,” he said. “I drive in and out of Queenscliff and I just noticed a few of them have been graffitied, with swastikas and writing saying I’m a racist, penises drawn on them.”

“I thought it was only one or two, then I went around and there were about nine of them around the township.

“I thought ‘how come mine were the only ones getting done?’

“Are they trying to refer to me, just because I’m a Liberal, as a right wing fascist?

“It’s just vile, nobody should be subjected to this form of abuse.”

Victorian Liberals deputy leader David Southwick slammed the targeting of the Bellarine candidate.

“I, along with Victorians across the state, have been deeply concerned by the most recent antisemitic, racist and homophobic graffiti attack against the Liberal Candidate for Bellarine, Donnie Grigau,” Mr Southwick said.

One of Mr Grigau’s defaced corflutes...

And another

“This abhorrent and cowardly attack has highlighted the use of the Nazi swastika as a tool of hate against not only Jews, but those from a range of ethnicities and diverse sexualities.

“The Victorian Liberals and Nationals stand against hate in all forms.

Mr Southwick also voiced his concerns with the State Government’s implementation of a ban on the public display of swastikas – an offence set to incur penalties of up to almost $22,000, 12-months imprisonment or both – which is set to come into effect in December.

“Unfortunately, under the Andrews Labor Government’s legislation – the criminalisation of the use of this symbol was delayed by six months and will not come into effect until later this year,” Mr Southwick said.

“It could never be clearer that this symbol has no place in Victoria and that its use should be banned, not in six-months’ time but immediately.”

Announcing the swastika ban in June Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes said the “vile behaviour will not be tolerated in Victoria.

“The Nazi symbol glorifies one of the most hateful ideologies in history – its public display does nothing but cause further pain and division,” Ms Symes said.

Originally published as Police investigate ’racist and homophobic’ vandalism of Bellarine election candidate’s posters