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| Vandals damage electorate offices of MPs Anna Burke and Andrew Robb | Vandals damage electorate offices of MPs Anna Burke and Andrew Robb |
| (21 days later) | |
| The offices of Labor MP and Speaker Anna Burke and Coalition finance spokesman Andrew Robb in their Melbourne electorates have been vandalised and daubed with pro-refugee graffiti. | The offices of Labor MP and Speaker Anna Burke and Coalition finance spokesman Andrew Robb in their Melbourne electorates have been vandalised and daubed with pro-refugee graffiti. |
| Burke, the MP for Chisholm, arrived at her office this morning to find the words “fre [sic] the refugees” in spray paint. Three large windowpanes had also been shattered. | Burke, the MP for Chisholm, arrived at her office this morning to find the words “fre [sic] the refugees” in spray paint. Three large windowpanes had also been shattered. |
| Burke told Guardian Australia there was what sounded like a “waterfall” of falling glass when she entered the building. | Burke told Guardian Australia there was what sounded like a “waterfall” of falling glass when she entered the building. |
| “It’s thrown out our morning beautifully,” she said. “My main worry was for the other tenants of the building. We needed a quick response to get the glass fixed as it could’ve been dangerous with a strong gust of wind.” | “It’s thrown out our morning beautifully,” she said. “My main worry was for the other tenants of the building. We needed a quick response to get the glass fixed as it could’ve been dangerous with a strong gust of wind.” |
| Burke said the apparent motive behind the attack was “bizarre” given her outspoken criticism of both Labor and Coalition policy on asylum seekers. | Burke said the apparent motive behind the attack was “bizarre” given her outspoken criticism of both Labor and Coalition policy on asylum seekers. |
| “I’ve never had this kind of resentment aimed at me as I’ve been so concerned about this issue and got on well with refugee groups,” she said. “I understand people’s concern about this issue, but a violent action doesn’t help what is a humanitarian issue. | “I’ve never had this kind of resentment aimed at me as I’ve been so concerned about this issue and got on well with refugee groups,” she said. “I understand people’s concern about this issue, but a violent action doesn’t help what is a humanitarian issue. |
| “I don’t think this will sway people one way or the other. It’s not the way to solve issues. People want a bipartisan, humane approach that stops playing politics with people’s lives.” | “I don’t think this will sway people one way or the other. It’s not the way to solve issues. People want a bipartisan, humane approach that stops playing politics with people’s lives.” |
| She said it was distressing “given the stance I’ve taken”. | She said it was distressing “given the stance I’ve taken”. |
| “There is no refugee crisis in Australia. I’ve raised concerns internally [within Labor] about how we are different from the Liberals on this, but we’ve now seen we have a far more humane approach than the Liberals, given their draconian and ever-more ludicrous approach to the situation.” | “There is no refugee crisis in Australia. I’ve raised concerns internally [within Labor] about how we are different from the Liberals on this, but we’ve now seen we have a far more humane approach than the Liberals, given their draconian and ever-more ludicrous approach to the situation.” |
| Robb’s office in Bentleigh, in the nearby Melbourne electorate of Goldstein, was also targeted, and sprayed with graffiti saying “no one is illegal” and “let them in”. | Robb’s office in Bentleigh, in the nearby Melbourne electorate of Goldstein, was also targeted, and sprayed with graffiti saying “no one is illegal” and “let them in”. |
| Robb had not responded to Guardian Australia’s request for comment at the time of publication. | Robb had not responded to Guardian Australia’s request for comment at the time of publication. |
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