03/11/2026
Socialist Alliance candidate says ‘Put the blame where it belongs’.
Socialist Alliance candidate for Lara and former Geelong City Councillor Sarah Hathway said
‘The attack on the 60yo Torquay man, assaulted in front of his own home as two people attempted to pull down a One Nation Party election sign is an indication of the increasing divide in our community.
I understand why people are angry in the current climate, people are hurting, they’re struggling week to week to afford the basics, however lashing out at each other isn’t going to improve our quality of life.
The increasing levels of politically motivated violence are concerning. Earlier this year Socialist Alliance candidate for Broadmeadows Sue Bolton, who is also a fourth-term Councillor on Merri-Bek City Council, was deliberately driven into whilst participating in an Anti-Racism rally in Melbourne. We also had reports of another Socialist Alliance candidate in Newcastle, Steve O’Brien, having their campaign stall tipped over and being physically assaulted.
No one should be physically assaulted in front of their own home over an election sign. However, in reality there is one political party constantly relying on divisive, controversial, and sometimes violent rhetoric to promote themselves. Unfortunately it is racist right wing parties who are inflaming the situation.
If you can’t put forward your policies without targeting individuals or punching down on already marginalised groups in our community, then you’re not providing leadership, you’re just worsening an already tense situation.
Let’s put the blame where it belongs. The one third of billionaires who don’t contribute anything to this country by way of taxes, and the politicians who are letting them get away with it.’