Staying safe while leafletting

The safety our community is front of mind for all of us right now. I had a question about leafletting and the public health order that I felt it was important to respond to.

And I wanted to reassure everyone, that we take this health situation very seriously, and have done our due diligence.

We’ve been given the all clear by local police and Service NSW to go ahead. My team is doing it as part of their daily exercise. It’s contactless and in our local area.

We had quite an upsetting incident yesterday where my running mate Madeleine and her partner Alex were confronted in the street by a fellow candidate running in the Lane Cove Council election.

She was out exercising and leafletting and this man took it upon himself to yell at her. He stopped his car in the middle of traffic and shouted at her that she was breaching a public health order and said he would be calling the police on her. She replied she was exercising. He then began videoing her with his phone while the engine was running. There was a young person in the car with him.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t think this is appropriate behaviour for anyone in our community, let alone someone running for council. The incident has been reported to local police.

If you ever have a concern about a potential breach of public health others, it is best to call Crimestoppers.

I also want to comment that we will not be deterred by men who think perhaps women, and young women in the community, should not be putting their hand up for civic duty.

The NSW Government has announced local government elections are going ahead. We are working hard to pivot online so that we can stay in contact and engage with our community while keeping everyone safe.

We’re all about welcoming everyone to participate in the democratic process.