CAMPAIGN TURNS NASTY

Labor volunteers abused by pro-life activists, Greens candidate bullied for her disability

LABOR volunteers have been followed home by anti-abortion activists, a Greens candidate has been told her disability makes her unfit for parliament, and hundreds of LNP signs have been damaged.

The escalation of abuse, both online and in person, facing candidates in the race for Toowoomba North has led them to call for calm in the electorate ahead of the October 31 state election.

THE battle for Toowoomba North has turned nasty, with all sides subject to abuse, both online and in person, leading candidates to call for calm.

Labor candidate Megan O’Hara Sullivan has claimed one of her supporters who had been handing out pamphlets at an early voting station in Highfields was verbally abused by several people over Labor’s abortion reforms in 2018.

“They called them commies and baby killers,” she said.

“When this volunteer got home, a car pulled up outside their place and one of the people who was abusing them at the polling booth said now we know where you live.

“It makes me furious that people feel it’s within their right to intimidate someone like that.

“We all have differences of opinion, but the beauty of where we live is we can express them without fear or favour.”

Toowoomba North Greens candidate Alyce Nelligan said this was the nastiest election campaign she had been involved in.

“I’ve received comments that are just hate speech, saying that because I’m physically disabled that I’m not fit for parliament.

“Generally state elections are a lot more respectful.

“I’m absolutely happy to talk about politics and policies, but it doesn't need to turn into a nasty, personal abusive attack.”

Toowoomba North LNP MP Trevor Watts said he encouraged anyone who experienced abuse while campaigning to contact police.

His campaign has been the target of graffiti attacks on billboards and has had hundreds of signs damaged.

Earlier this week he labelled the impacts on the signs as an “attack on democracy”.

“If you do not agree with a candidate, party or someone’s viewpoint, the place to express that is at the ballot box – not by engaging in potentially criminal activity,” Mr Watts said.

The Chronicle is not suggesting any of the Toowoomba North candidate’s campaigns are behind the issues individual candidates have raised.