A Greens senator has been condemned as “a complete moron” for justifying vandalism of war memorials in Canberra as a form of “political expression”.
Jordon Steele-John said his party could not support a motion condemning the protesters’ actions because war memorials “are not politically neutral spaces”.
The Australian National Korean War Memorial, the Australian National Vietnam Forces Memorial and the Australian National Army Memorial were all defaced with messages condemning the Palestinian war on Saturday night.
The messages read “blood on your hands” and “from the river to the sea, free Palestine”. Another targeted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
Mr Albanese called this an act of desecration of the worst kind and called for those responsible to be publicly exposed.
Senator Jacqui Lambie tabled a motion condemning the actions in the Senate, but the Greens abstained and Steele-John later argued that “the Australian Constitution contains no explicit commitment to freedom of expression”.
“If we want to believe that the men and women of the ADF gave their lives in wars and conflicts to defend those freedoms, then we have to accept the reality that protesting, that painting, is a form of expression,” he said.
Jordon Steele-John said his party could not support a motion condemning the protesters’ actions because war memorials “are not politically neutral spaces”.
Liberal Party deputy defence spokesman Phillip Thompson later criticised Steele-John, describing him as an “absolute moron”, along with the rest of the Greens who abstained.
“Our nation’s parliament, the people who are here to serve the community, to look after people, to make sure our veterans and our ADF personnel and their families are supported, and we have those people saying things like they support the freedom to do graffiti,” he said.
“I just think it’s a disgrace and they don’t deserve to be there.”
Mr Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton jointly condemned the graffiti.
Speaking more broadly about the “frankly idiotic and criminal actions”, the Prime Minister said that “nothing is as bad as the desecration of these monuments”.
“I sincerely hope that those responsible will be found, that the full weight of the law will be applied to them and that they will be severely punished,” he said.
The messages read “blood on your hands” and “from the river to the sea, free Palestine”, while another pointed to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, opposition leader Peter Dutton and Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
‘They should also publicly expose who they are. We know who they are: they do not deserve any respect or any leniency as a result of their own actions.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton joined in condemning Albanese and expressed hope that the perpetrators would be arrested soon.
“I hope that the police can redouble their efforts to identify these people (and) allow a very clear message to be sent to those who think like them: that these acts must not be tolerated in our society,” he said.
Mr Thompson said he would like to “see these criminals handcuffed and brought to court”.
Ms Lambie was outraged by the Greens’ refusal to support her and shouted “a new low!” in the chamber.
Labour’s Raff Ciccone also hit out at the Greens, saying Steele-John’s comments were “totally out of line” and “offensive”.
He said the Labour Party condemned the vandalism at “one of the most sacred places in the country”.
Mr Thompson said he would like to “see these criminals handcuffed and brought to court”.
‘Australians have the right to peacefully protest, but they do not have the right to vandalise, spray paint or desecrate… our monuments.’
The Coalition’s James Paterson said the motion could have been a “moment of unity” for the House if the Greens had supported it.
“It’s extraordinary that any elected member of this place would come here and defend the defacement and desecration of these monuments,” he said.
An ACT Police spokesman said the latest acts of vandalism at the three memorial sites and a wall on the west side of Anzac Parade would be investigated.
“The incidents will be considered alongside previous similar matters that have occurred in recent months,” he said.
The spokesman said a search warrant had been executed on Friday, but no charges had been filed at the time of publication.
“Police remind the community that peaceful protest is part of a healthy democracy, but criminal acts will not be tolerated,” the spokesman said.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
