Swastikas and vile phrases such as “vote no to fags” have been scrawled on trains, and homes flying the rainbow flag have been attacked, in an outbreak of homophobic violence and vandalism accompanying the postal survey on same-sex marriage. Tasmanian police have also laid charges over the alleged assault of a transgender teenager in Hobart on Friday, just a day after former prime minister Tony Abbott was headbutted by a self-proclaimed anarchist DJ in the same area. The incidents further test Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s claim that “overwhelmingly, Australians are engaging in this debate respectfully”, with six weeks to go until the deadline for survey forms to be received by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
In Sydney, photos surfaced of obscene graffiti inside a train carriage, including swastikas and the phrases “vote no! to fags” and “faggots not welcome”. The photos were uploaded to the Reddit website last week by a user who said they saw the “absolutely f–king disgusting” graffiti on a train journey to Circular Quay.
A Sydney Trains spokesman said the graffiti was reported five days ago and “immediately removed”.
Queensland police are also investigating an apparent vandalism spree in South Brisbane targeting homes flying the rainbow flag. In one incident late on Sunday night, large rocks were thrown into the home of 22-year-old Olivia Hill, who had affixed “yes” banners and rainbow signs to the property.
Full Article: ‘Vote no to fags’: Outbreak of homophobic violence, vandalism in same-sex marriage campaign.