Victorian Federal Labor MP Josh Burns has been targeted in a horror anti-Semitic graffiti attack.
The vandalism was carried out on one of Mr Burns’ election posters and featured a swastika drawn on his forehead along with a moustache akin to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
Mr Burns, who is Jewish, shared an image of the defacement on Twitter, calling it a “line that shouldn’t be crossed”.
‘There’s no place for the Swastika in Australia. I’m not putting this up for sympathy – to be honest, I’ve got thicker skin than that,” he wrote.
“But I’m putting this graffiti up as a reminder that there are some lines that shouldn’t be crossed.”
The 35-year-old, who represents the Macnamara electorate in Melbourne’s inner southeast, went on to thank supporters with the graffiti expected to be cleaned off on Saturday.
“Elections can be brutal and sometimes politics in Australia is not practiced at the highest level – I get that,” he said.
“It will be cleaned today and we will continue on with a full day of campaigning. With even more determination and focus to help shape and build our wonderful democratic Australia.”
The Anti-Defamation Commission Chairman Dvir Abramovich said the vadalism is a “repulsive and hateful assault on our democratic system”.
“The effect of such vandalism in to intimidate and frighten, and is a painful reminder that antisemitism is alive and well on our state,’ he said.
“We stand firmly with Josh Burns during this difficult time, and trust that those who carried this crime are identified and are brought to justice.”
NSW Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes was quick to offer support to Mr Burns, calling the attack “truly disgusting”.
“Hope you’re doing OK. Noxjmtzyw one should have to put up with that!” she wrote on Twitter.
Victorian Federal Labor MP Kate Thwaites agreed, calling the graffiti “terrible”.
“As you say, no place for this,” she wrote.
Mr Burns was first elected to parliament at the 2019 Australian federal election after a career which included working for Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Labor federal MP Michael Danby.
