Tuesday, 3 May 2022

Federal election

Mr ROWSWELL (Sandringham) (14:15): Until GetUp!, Climate 200 and a fake independent recently concerned themselves with my community, en masse and unrelenting destruction of private property never happened during election time. But disappointingly that has now changed. Night after night Bayside residents who are freely expressing their democratic right to support their outstanding federal MP, in Tim Wilson, are waking up to election signs graffitied and denigrated. Driving through my area I have observed every Liberal sign defaced but have never observed a fake independent or ALP sign defaced. One 75-year-old Sandringham resident has had her election sign defaced five times in the last two weeks. That election sign is but 4 metres from her bedroom window. That resident is my mother. She lives alone, and I rightly have fears for her safety.

Criminal destruction of private property must end, and GetUp!, Climate 200 and the fake independent must call in their cronies and tell them to stop. Freedom of speech, freedom of expression and fully engaging in our democracy are the bedrock of our community. Destruction of private property is not, but of course Tim’s opponents want to tear him down. He is a local who has a proven track record of delivering locally. Whether it be $6 million for the restoration of Elsternwick Park, $5 million towards the Bayside warm water pool or $1.3 million for new women’s change rooms at the Trevor Barker oval in Sandringham, Tim’s record of local delivery is unrivalled. He has done the work, he has supported our community and that is why I will be backing him on 21 May this year.