Protesters angry at the Liberal senator Cory Bernardi’s calls to scrap the controversial Safe Schools program have defaced his office in Adelaide, calling him “Australia’s Trump”.
Slogans including “no to homophobia”, “shame” and “fuck Bernardi” have been scrawled on and around his Kent Town office.
More than 20 activists occupied the offices as Bernardi’s wife and some staffers retreated into other rooms, according to the Adelaide Advertiser.
Police arrived about 12.30 and the protesters moved on, the paper said.
Senator Cory Bernadi's office trashed by protestors over calls to close Safe Schools program #9newscomau pic.twitter.com/u23PfBQIXZ
— Tracy Alexander (@talexander_9) March 18, 2016
Pictures from Channel Nine show papers strewn around the office and furniture upended.
Bernardi said the protesters were “a bunch of cowards” and that he was glad his staff had not been harmed.
Lefty totalitarians have trashed my office and threatened my staff because their agenda has been exposed. What a bunch of cowards.
— Cory Bernardi (@corybernardi) March 18, 2016
Grateful my team are safe and appreciate the efforts of the Police.
— Cory Bernardi (@corybernardi) March 18, 2016
The hardline South Australian conservative senator is fiercely opposed to the program, which was designed to reduce bullying of LGBTI students and was the subject of an independent review. Debate over the merits of the program has opened deep divisions within the Liberal party.
Australian Associated Press contributed to this report
