Police probe after bullet holes found in election sign in Victoria
An independent candidate for a Victorian state seat has called for acts of political violence to stop after a bullet hole was found in one of his campaign signs.
Dr Lachie McKeeman, who is running in the seat of Benambra in Victoria’s south-east, said on Thursday a volunteer had reported a campaign sign in his yard had a bullet hole in it.
Dr Lachie McKeeman condemned recent alleged acts of political violence in Victoria. Dr Lachie McKeeman
McKeeman said he reported the incident to police, who were now investigating.
“Police are investigating after bullet holes were found in a political sign in Rutherglen on 4 November,” a police statement said.
The sign, located in a paddock on Trimbles Lane, is believed to have been damaged between 6pm on 3 November and 8am on 4 November.
“In addition to the bullet holes, the image on the sign had been defaced.”
McKeeman called on all acts of political violence, no matter which party was the target, to come to an end.
Helen Haines was critically injured in the alleged attack outside of her electoral office in Wangaratta. The electorate of Benambra overlaps with Haines’ electorate of Indi. Alex Ellinghausen
“I do want to say that our volunteers are safe, and I’m remaining incredibly grateful for their support,” he said in a video posted to social media; he also shared a written statement, where he condemned a series of alleged political attacks that had occurred recently in Victoria.
This includes the alleged attack on Helen Haines, the MP for Indi, which overlaps the seat McKeeman is trying to win.
“Following the incidents involving Dr Helen Haines and the One Nation volunteer in Torquay, we should all draw the same line: violence and intimidation, in all their forms, have no place in our democracy or society,” he said.
“I want to be clear, I’m determined to win this election because it’s our opportunity to turn the page on divisive politics, and choose hope, decency and get politics working for us.”
Haines was hit by a car repeatedly in an alleged attack outside her campaign office in Shepparton last month, which resulted in her losing both of her legs.
She remains in a serious but stable condition in hospital.
Tributes to Helen Haines outside of her electoral office. She remains in a serious condition after losing two legs in an alleged attack. Eddie Jim
Brendan Nugent has been arrested and charged in relation to the alleged attack, and remains before the courts.
The incident in Benambra comes just two days after a One Nation volunteer was left with serious head injuries after allegedly being attacked outsider of his home near Geelong.
Two men allegedly damaged One Nation signs in the man’s yard, and allegedly attacked him when he tried to stop them.
One man has been charged with assault, while a 14-year-old boy was released with a caution.
Victoria Police on Wednesday said they were “not treating the incident as politically motivated”.
File photo: A One Nation volunteer was allegedly attacked outside his home near Geelong, leaving him with serious injuries. Supplied
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson condemned the assault when visiting the man and his family on Wednesday.
“It’s very distressing, I find it very distressing now… I’m very emotional about this because I respect people who support me,” she said.
“I’m crying out now for something to be done.
“Whether it is Ben Carroll gets back in as premier, whether it’s Jess Wilson or whether it’s One Nation, we actually have some say in this state, all of us have to be doing better than what is happening in this state when it comes to crime.”
The seat of Benambra is currently held by the Liberal Party, but the incumbent MP, Bill Tilley, is retiring.
Tilley won the seat in 2022 by 0.9 per cent on the two-candidate preferred vote against an independent.
Victorians go to the polls on Saturday, November 28, in what is seen as a three-way contest between Labor, the Coalition, and One Nation.
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