Two teens charged with vandalising Josh Burns’ office
Police have charged two people after the offices of a federal Labor MP were daubed with red graffiti and windows smashed.
Fire and criminal damage at Federal Labor MP Josh Burns’ electoral office in Melbourne, Wednesday, June 19, 2024. Federal Labor MP Josh Burns’ electoral office has been targeted by vandals who smashed windows, graffitied and set fire to the front in an early morning attack. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett)
Two teenagers have been charged over the vandalism of a federal Labor MP’s Melbourne office which left it smeared in red paint.
Windows were smashed and covered in painted slogans including “Zionism is fascism” at the electoral office of Labor MP Josh Burns at Barkly Street in St Kilda, on June 19.
At the time, Mr Burns called the damage a “politically motivated attack” and acknowledged that images of the incident might be distressing for people.
Police charged an 18-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy on Thursday with burglary and two counts of criminal damage.
Josh Burns is keen to move on after a “distressing” period for his staff and has a message for two teens alleged to have vandalised his office.
“The decisions people make as young people don’t have to define the rest of their lives,” Labor MP Josh Burns said on Friday.
Windows were smashed and covered in red painted slogans including “Zionism is fascism” at Mr Burns’ office in Melbourne’s St Kilda on June 19.
Police charged an 18-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy on Thursday with burglary and two counts of criminal damage.
The member for Macnamara, who is Jewish, has been targeted in the past by vandals defacing his election posters.
Mr Burns thanked police for their diligence and confirmed his office has since reopened after extensive repairs.
“Whilst it has been a distressing period for my team and I, we are all keen to move on and continue our work serving the wonderful people of Macnamara,” he said.
“As these matters are before the court, and investigations are still ongoing, I won’t be making any further statement at this time.”
The pair’s charges include a second incident of vandalism with red paint at a building on St Kilda Rd on July 17.
The woman has been bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on October 11, while the boy will face a children’s court at a later date.
Police are continuing to investigate the two incidents.
By: Caitlin Powell/AAP
Bring back the strap and the cane for more serious misbehavour. When I got the strap on my hand at North Essendon state school in the mid 1960’s it stung for hours.