Source : the age
Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich has condemned the actions of graffiti vandals who sprayed a homophobic slur on his inner-city electorate office as “extremely distressing”.
Images supplied by Greenwich show the alleged offenders had sprayed the word “pedo” on the sandstone walls and glass doors of the corner building on Oxford Street in Darlinghurst on Sunday.
Greenwich, who is openly gay and led the Yes campaign for marriage equality, said police were investigating and no one should have to be confronted with such an incident in their workplace – “especially on the nine-year anniversary of the marriage equality Yes vote”.
“This homophobic attack was extremely distressing for me and my staff,” he told the Herald.
“If it was designed to intimidate me, it has had the opposite effect. I’m more determined than ever before to ensure Sydney and NSW is a safer and fairer place for my community.”
NSW Police said officers set up a crime scene after they were called to the building before midday.
Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage and making inquiries to identify offenders.
The graffiti incident follows grave injuries suffered by federal MP Helen Haines in regional Victoria in October, which placed renewed attention on the hostility frequently directed at politicians.
Wentworth MP Allegra Spender, who attended a fundraising event with Greenwich on Sunday, was “disgusted and appalled” that his office was targeted with the “vile homophobic slur”.
“There is no place for homophobia or hate in our community, and certainly not in Australian politics,” Spender said on social media.
“Words matter, and this kind of attack is designed to intimidate and harm.”
Greenwich, who has been Sydney MP since 2012, will recontest his seat at the March state election.
He considered leaving politics after taking on former NSW One Nation MP Mark Latham in a series of court battles after the one-time federal Labor leader tweeted a highly graphic and homophobic remark about Greenwich in 2023.
Greenwich won his defamation case against Latham (who lost an appeal against the ruling) but conceded the hate directed his way from others wore him down.
Last year, he told gay magazine DNA the tweet attacking his sexuality was the start of a long period of sustained online hate, death threats – which police believed to be credible – and self-doubt.
But Greenwich said the Bondi massacre on December 14, and the rise of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, had ultimately compelled him to stay in politics and fight “for the sensible centre”.
“I’ve seen how the far right can destabilise politics, and [how] a sensible centrist crossbench [can provide] stability in minority governments. As the only gay member of the lower house, I’m often reminded that if you are not at the table, you are on the menu, and hard-fought wins like abortion decriminalisation, voluntary assisted dying and LGBTQ rights can, and have, come under attack,” Greenwich said in March.
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