Accusations fly over obscured Bibas poster
Allegra Spender’s team say they have time-stamped photographic evidence that her poster was not placed over the Bibas one
Liberal candidate for Wentworth Ro Knox has doubled down following legal threats by incumbent Member, independent Allegra Spender, after one of the latter’s corflutes was photographed obscuring a poster of the Bibas family in Rose Bay.
A photograph of the campaign sign placed over the poster commemorating Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas, who were abducted during the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led assault on southern Israel and murdered while in captivity in Gaza, was first posted in the “Jews of Sydney” Facebook group earlier this week.
Spender’s team say they have time-stamped photographic evidence that her poster was not placed over the Bibas one, while the volunteer involved has signed a statutory declaration.
It is unclear who placed the two signs together.
Knox told media this week, “It is deeply disappointing and offensive that Allegra Spender’s team chose to cover a poster of the Bibas family with one of her election signs. This shows a lack of respect, and our community deserves a campaign built on honesty, integrity, and decency.”
Spender on Thursday night called it a “disgraceful accusation” and “completely false”.
“My poster was put up previously, clear of anything else. The volunteer who put up the poster is a Jewish Australian,” Spender said.
“The Bibas family poster was inserted later. There is time-stamped photo evidence and a statutory declaration from the volunteer to confirm this.”
Spender said that earlier in the week, the Daily Telegraph had “refused to publish these accusations because of their lack of credibility”.
“I am considering legal options against the Liberal Party candidate and I ask that she un-reservedly apologise,” she said. “The tragic conflict overseas and suffering of communities in Australia should not be exploited for political gain.”
But Knox responded in a statement on Friday morning that she would not be intimidated.
“There is clear proof that a poster commemorating the Bibas family was securely fastened to a fence and was later covered by a Teal party poster promoting Allegra Spender,” she said.
“I am very disappointed that Ms Spender would threaten heavy handed legal action with such inflammatory language about something I said, rather than apologise for something her team did.
“Your team should do the right thing and apologise to the community and let’s move on.”
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