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An 18-year-old has been charged after the office of Australian opposition leader Peter Dutton was vandalised for the third time during the election campaign.
Dutton, the Liberal Party leader, had his Brisbane office in Arana Hills splashed with red paint and plastered with posters criticising his views on various issues.
Police reported that four people seen behaving suspiciously near the scene fled when officers arrived. However, the dog squad later located and arrested an 18-year-old woman, who has been charged with wilful damage.
The incident comes as Australians prepare to vote on Saturday, 3 May. Dutton recently stirred controversy over his comments regarding Aboriginal "welcome to country" ceremonies, calling them "overdone," which drew backlash from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and even some former party colleagues. These ceremonies, acknowledging traditional land owners, have become common at public events.
Posters on Dutton’s office included messages like "always was, always will be Aboriginal land" and criticised his remarks about seeking "common ground" with Donald Trump, his views on the Israel-Gaza conflict, and his association with mining magnate Gina Rinehart.
Earlier this month, the same office was targeted twice — once with graffiti calling him "maggot" and "scum," and later with a smashed window and white paint thrown over the entrance.
Dutton has not publicly addressed the vandalism, but his party members have raised concerns about the rise in attacks on political offices. Last week, Senator James Paterson told Sky News Australia, "Unfortunately, this is becoming an increasingly common issue, not just for Peter but for MPs across the country, involving graffiti and even more serious violence."
