It's often said politics is a dirty business, a saying Great Lakes Greens Party convener Stephen Ballantine can attest to.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In the past four days Mr Ballantine has been subjected to abuse, intimidation and theft just because of his political affiliation.
Earlier last week Mr Ballantine was verbally insulted and falsely accused of taking down signs of an opposition party by a couple in a silver Commodore.
Mr Ballantine was erecting a signed along Black Head Road at Hallidays Point when a middle-aged couple pulled up and began their tirade.
“It was a nasty situation,”Mr Ballantine said.
“I was frightened,” he said.
After hopping back into his vehicle, the couple followed Mr Ballantine as he drove towards Black Head.
“They then accused me of taking down their signs,” he said.
During a three day period from June 19, 10 advertising signs erected by The Greens Party along The Lakes Way have been removed.
To ensure the signs remained secure, some were fastened on a wire fence with cable ties.
“The cable ties are still there, but the signs are gone,” Mr Ballantine said.
At $25 per sign, the theft is beginning to eat into the party's funds.
"We raise money at the markets we go to; we cannot afford to lose any more.”
Mr Ballantine believes the missing signs are not the work of industrious council workers or wayward youths, but members of the public wanting to cause trouble.
Political parties in the Great Lakes which erect advertising signs pay MidCoast Council (Great Lakes) a $500 bond to ensure they are removed following the election.
He said parties respected laws which prohibited the erection of advertising policital signs on Crown land or council property.
“I don't want to get a ladder and climb up a tree so our signs cannot be butchered or stolen nor are we in the business of vandalising other partys’ signs.”
Are you casting a postal vote this Federal election?
If so, the Australian Electoral Commission says completed ballot papers should be returned as soon as possible.
Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers says postal voters should complete their ballot papers, sign the envelope and have it witnessed, and mail it before election day this Saturday.