Homophobic, transphobic flyers distributed in Sydney ahead of NSW election
Homophobic, transphobic flyers have allegedly been distributed in the Sydney suburbs of Hurstville and Campsie ahead of the NSW election this month.
The flyers, which are written in Chinese and Arabic alongside translations in broken English, instruct locals not to vote for Labor “if you do not want your children become homosexuality”.
They were previously distributed in Georges River, Bayside, Canterbury-Bankstown and Strathfield areas during the marriage equality postal survey, and were referred to the NSW Electoral Commission at the time.
With “DO NOT VOTE LABOR” emblazoned at the top, the flyers bear cartoon images of same-sex couples, some engaged in sex acts together – as well as one male figure masturbating.
“If you want to protect your family value and future,” the flyer, which was posted on the r/Sydney forum on Reddit, gives as another reason.
“If you do not want the children have 63 genders,” it reads.
It also tells voters do avoid casting their ballot for Labor “If you do not want your children to learn how to sponke their monkeys.”
While a majority of Hurstville residents identified as having ‘No Religion’ at the last census, while in Campsie nearly 40 per cent of residents identify as of Christian affiliation.
Both suburbs have a high migrant population, and are part of the electorates that some suggested the Yes campaign neglected during the marriage equality postal survey.
Hurstville is part of both the Banks (45 per cent Yes, 55 per cent No) and Barton (44 per cent Yes, 55 per cent No) electorates, represented by Liberal MP David Coleman and Labor MP Linda Burney respectively.
Part of Campsie also falls in the Barton electorate, while also crossing into Watson, which is represented by longtime Labor MP Tony Burke and returned the second-lowest Yes vote in the country at 30 per cent.
Chris Minns, the Labor MP for Kogarah, told 9News that he had once again referred the materials to the electoral commission for being illegally distributed.
At the time of their initial distribution, linguists noted that while the Chinese on the poster contained no major problems, the English and Arabic translations were inaccurate.
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If anyone has received a copy of the flyer please contact the NSW Electoral Commission on telephone 9290 5999. Ask to speak to one of their investigators.
They need assistance from people who have received the flyer to help prosecute the offender.
The fines for distributing unauthorised election material clearly do not act as a deterrent. The Electoral Commission prosecuted the person responsible for the distribution of these flyers during the local council elections. The person pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined about $ 1000. I was involved in the prosecution as I provided a statement to the Electoral Conmission about receiving the flyer and my reaction to it.
If the same person is responsible for this latest flyer, hopefully the fine for a second offence will be more than $1000.
In November 2017 when the same-sex marriage survey results were announced, and showed Western Sydney electorates returning majority no votes, in mainly Labor seats, I always suspected that future election campaigns would include conservative sides playing up these ‘same-sex vote’ fears to their advantage. It seems there is now proof of this campaigning style choice.
As a resident in the Barton electorate I can attest that the yes campaign did neglect my electorate during the marriage equality postal survey.
While I agree that the Yes campaign was strangely underactive in migrant communities in Western Sydney (despite having a lot of ex-ALP campaign gurus who had experience of working in this region), most migrant voters vote on economic issues rather than social issues. This campaign is hateful and nasty but it will also be ineffective.
It really is a dumb campaign. I for one learned to sponke my monkey during a Liberal administration.