Masked vandal shocks Aussies with severed heads of politician statues, causing $140,000 in damages
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In a brazen act of vandalism that has sent shockwaves through the community, a masked figure has been photographed issuing a stark and chilling warning while clutching the severed head of a statue of former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating.
The unsettling image, which also shows the vandal kneeling on the bust of another former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has sparked outrage and concern among Australians, particularly those in the Ballarat region where the incident took place.
The vandal, shrouded in black and wielding a sledgehammer, was captured with a foot disrespectfully placed upon the Australian flag.
Accompanying the disturbing photo was a caption: 'Victoria Police say return the heads? We say return the land to its rightful owners! The colony is falling.'
This message is a provocative political statement that has deeply troubled authorities and citizens alike.
The statues of Keating and Rudd were part of a collection of 20 bronze busts representing former Australian prime ministers, all of which were damaged in the early morning hours of 23 January at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens.
The vandals did not stop at decapitation; they also covered the nameplates of the remaining 18 statues with paint, leaving behind a damage bill estimated at a staggering $140,000, as reported by the Courier.
The heads of the Keating and Rudd statues are valued at approximately $50,000 each.
Police investigations revealed that an angle grinder was likely used to remove the busts.
They are seeking to speak with four individuals seen in a silver ute captured on CCTV footage at the scene.
Ballarat Police Acting Inspector Brad Hall expressed his disappointment at the blatant disregard for the community's well-being, emphasising the emotional impact such actions have on the public.
'Knowing full well the emotions that their actions have created, to have a complete disregard for that is quite disappointing,' he expressed.
Sculptor Peter Nicholson, who crafted several of the busts, including those of Keating and Rudd, was particularly distraught.
'It is very upsetting … especially for the people of Ballarat,' he said.
'(Prime Ministers Avenue is) very popular. It's got every prime minister since federation, and it's the only one of its kind in Australia. '
'It's just a disgraceful thing that it's been vandalised in this way.'
The police treat the incident as a political statement and believe the photo is legitimate.
This is not the first time the statues have been targeted; in 2020, the busts of former Liberal prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott were sprayed with red paint.
Inspector Hall warned that it was only a matter of time before the perpetrators were arrested and urged them to return the stolen heads.
The brazen attack raises questions about the security of public art and the motivations behind such acts of vandalism.
It also serves as a reminder of the deep-seated political tensions within Australian society.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of this crime, many are left wondering what message the vandals truly intended to convey and what the implications are for the broader discourse on Australia's political and cultural heritage.
Credit: YouTube
Have you visited the Prime Minister's Avenue in Ballarat? How do you feel about using vandalism as a form of political protest? Share your opinions in the comments below.
The unsettling image, which also shows the vandal kneeling on the bust of another former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has sparked outrage and concern among Australians, particularly those in the Ballarat region where the incident took place.
The vandal, shrouded in black and wielding a sledgehammer, was captured with a foot disrespectfully placed upon the Australian flag.
Accompanying the disturbing photo was a caption: 'Victoria Police say return the heads? We say return the land to its rightful owners! The colony is falling.'
The heads of statues representing former Australian prime ministers Paul Keating and Kevin Rudd were stolen by a masked vandal from the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. Credit: YouTube
This message is a provocative political statement that has deeply troubled authorities and citizens alike.
The statues of Keating and Rudd were part of a collection of 20 bronze busts representing former Australian prime ministers, all of which were damaged in the early morning hours of 23 January at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens.
The vandals did not stop at decapitation; they also covered the nameplates of the remaining 18 statues with paint, leaving behind a damage bill estimated at a staggering $140,000, as reported by the Courier.
The heads of the Keating and Rudd statues are valued at approximately $50,000 each.
Police investigations revealed that an angle grinder was likely used to remove the busts.
They are seeking to speak with four individuals seen in a silver ute captured on CCTV footage at the scene.
Ballarat Police Acting Inspector Brad Hall expressed his disappointment at the blatant disregard for the community's well-being, emphasising the emotional impact such actions have on the public.
'Knowing full well the emotions that their actions have created, to have a complete disregard for that is quite disappointing,' he expressed.
Sculptor Peter Nicholson, who crafted several of the busts, including those of Keating and Rudd, was particularly distraught.
'It is very upsetting … especially for the people of Ballarat,' he said.
'(Prime Ministers Avenue is) very popular. It's got every prime minister since federation, and it's the only one of its kind in Australia. '
'It's just a disgraceful thing that it's been vandalised in this way.'
The vandalism has been condemned by Ballarat mayor Tracey Hargreaves as 'completely unacceptable,' highlighting the financial burden it places on ratepayers and its negative impact on Ballarat's image as a city. The police treat the incident as a political statement and believe the photo is legitimate.
This is not the first time the statues have been targeted; in 2020, the busts of former Liberal prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott were sprayed with red paint.
Inspector Hall warned that it was only a matter of time before the perpetrators were arrested and urged them to return the stolen heads.
The brazen attack raises questions about the security of public art and the motivations behind such acts of vandalism.
It also serves as a reminder of the deep-seated political tensions within Australian society.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of this crime, many are left wondering what message the vandals truly intended to convey and what the implications are for the broader discourse on Australia's political and cultural heritage.
Credit: YouTube
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