Nationals Candidate’s Billboard Defaced with Swastika

File photo of a municipal worker cleaning Nazi swastikas from public buildings. Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images

A swastika was painted on the billboard of Nationals candidate for Calare, Sam Farraway, in Orange, New South Wales, marking the latest act of unrest.

Farraway shared a photo of the vandalism on social media, stating, “Far-right extremism and neo-Nazism have no place in our country.”

“It is disappointing to see this in our backyard in the Central West, a region that welcomes people of all races and cultures,” he added.

“This diversity is what makes it such a great place to live and work.

“I hope the vandals face the full force of the law.”

Farraway has called on both the Australian Federal Police and NSW Police to investigate. However, the police have not yet issued a statement on the matter.

Rise in Anti-Semitic Graffiti Across Sydney

The incident follows a series of anti-Semitic graffiti attacks across Sydney.

Last week, red swastikas were spray-painted at the entrance of an inner-city synagogue, and a house in the eastern suburbs was also defaced with anti-Jewish slurs.

On Jan. 17, another synagogue in Sydney was similarly targeted with swastika graffiti.

“These people are determined to divide our community,” said New South Wales (NSW) Premier Chris Minns.

“We will always call out these acts for what they are—monstrous and appalling.”

In December, masked arsonists set fire to a Melbourne synagogue, leading the federal government to establish a task force to combat anti-Semitism.

As tensions over the Gaza conflict continue, Australia has witnessed regular protests from supporters of both Israel and Palestine.

Government’s Strategy to Tackle Extremism

The Albanese Labor government has announced a $106.2 million investment over four years to combat violent extremism in local communities.

The funding will support a new Counter-Terrorism and Violent Extremism Strategy, which focuses on grassroots engagement, collaboration across sectors, and youth advisory groups to help shape policies.

“Prevention is our best defence,” the government stated.

Meanwhile, the Coalition has pledged to make antisemitic offences punishable with mandatory minimum jail terms under a Coalition government.

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has said anyone found guilty of terrorism would face a minimum of six years in prison, and anyone caught displaying banned terrorist organisation symbols or performing a Nazi salute would be subject to at least a 12-month sentence.

Youth Radicalisation on the Rise in Australia

The strategy comes amid rising concerns about youth radicalisation.

In 2024, the Australian Federal Police and its Joint Counter-Terrorism Teams charged 17 individuals across 12 operations.

Around 71 percent of those charged were under 18, facing allegations of involvement in terrorist acts, advocating terrorism, and sharing extremist materials.

Between 2020 and 2024, the Australian Federal Police investigated 37 individuals aged 17 or younger, with the youngest just 12 years old.

More than half of these cases involved violent extremist content shared on platforms like Discord, Telegram, and TikTok.