MP Andrew Hastie's Office Vandalised with 'Traitor Goy' Graffiti

Staff at federal MP Andrew Hastie's electorate office in Mandurah, Western Australia, discovered the words 'traitor goy' spray-painted on the front of the office on Friday morning. The incident has prompted a police investigation and drawn swift condemnation from community and political figures.

Police Investigate Vandalism Incident

Mandurah Police were called to the scene immediately following the discovery. Inquiries into the incident are ongoing as authorities work to identify those responsible for the vandalism.

Community and Political Outcry Over Graffiti

The graffiti attack has been widely condemned. Perth Hebrew Congregation chief rabbi Daniel Lieberman was quick to respond, explaining the derogatory nature and implications of the term used.

Rabbi Lieberman explained that 'goy' has been used as a derogatory term for a non-Jewish person perceived as overly supportive of Jewish people. He suggested the graffiti implies Andrew Hastie is controlled by or too close to the Jewish community, particularly in relation to recent hate speech legislation.

Federal Liberal MP Julian Leeser, who is Jewish Australian, described the graffiti as "disgusting." He stated that the act specifically targeted Andrew Hastie for his support of laws designed to address hate preachers, radical Islamists, and Neo-Nazis.

Context: Hastie's Stance on Hate Speech Legislation

The vandalism occurs after Mr. Hastie's vote in mid-January for an amended version of new laws targeting hate groups. He had initially indicated he would not support Labor's hate speech laws, which were drafted in response to the Bondi terror attack. However, he later supported the revised bill. This decision generated comments on his social media posts that denounced his support for the legislation.

Andrew Hastie has not yet commented publicly on the graffiti attack at his office.