ACT Greens have confirmed the identity of the woman as candidate for Murrumbidgee, Harini Rangarajan. Photo: Arifur Rahman, Canberra Notice Board Group, Facebook.
An ACT Greens candidate has apologised after a video surfaced showing her removing a rival party’s pamphlet from the front doorstep of a home and packing it away in her bag.
In the first of two videos, captured by an overhead camera and shared with the Canberra Notice Board Group on Facebook, a man is seen placing a Canberra Liberals pamphlet on the doorstep of a home.
The second video shows a woman removing the pamphlet and placing it in her bag. A flash of ACT Greens advertising material is seen on the clipboard she’s carrying.
“I found this unusual, excuse me if I’m wrong,” the post read.
“Yesterday around 12:40 pm, a Liberals candidate (or representative) left a leaflet at our door after finding none of us home. Around 5:15 pm, I was working in my backyard, and a Greens candidate came and removed that leaflet and put it into her bag. Why?
“You lost my consideration, sorry.”
Amid speculation, the ACT Greens confirmed the woman in the video was candidate for Murrumbidgee, Harini Rangarajan.
Another camera captured Ms Rangarajan as she walked up the home’s driveway. Photo: Arifur Rahman, Canberra Notice Board Group, Facebook.
“This was a poor judgment call on my behalf and I shouldn’t have done it,” Ms Rangarajan said in a statement.
“I apologise to the resident and to the Canberra Liberals.”
Canberra Liberals candidate for Murrumbidgee Ed Cocks described it as “very disappointing behaviour”.
“I’m going to keep focussed on our positive plans to deliver the Molonglo town centre and police station, fix Molonglo Valley’s traffic problems and build a new Southside Arena,” he said.
Under Australian law, it is an offence to “intentionally damage or tamper with mail-receptacles (post boxes), articles (mail) or postal messages”, with a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Elections ACT has been contacted for comment.
Canberra Liberals candidate Ed Cocks placing a pamphlet at the door earlier that afternoon. Photo: Arifur Rahman, Canberra Notice Board Group, Facebook.
The ACT Greens hasn’t confirmed whether any further action will be taken.
Born in Chennai, India, Ms Rangarajan grew up between there and Canberra, finally settling in Rivett in 2018. She attended Orana Steiner in Weston Creek for Years 11 and 12 and describes herself as “deeply involved in my community at Mawson Temple”.
She is currently studying finance at the Australian National University (ANU).
“I see a gap in our lawmakers, that they don’t reflect young and diverse voices from the diverse cultural backgrounds that call Canberra home. That drove me to be involved in politics and now, to run as one of your Greens candidates in Murrumbidgee,” her bio on the ACT Greens website reads.
The ACT Greens are running three candidates in Murrumbidgee, in addition to Harini Rangarajan – Emma Davidson, Sam Carter and Michael Brewer.
The Canberra Liberals have five for the electorate – Ed Cocks, Jeremy Hanson, Elyse Heslehurst, Amardeep Singh and Karen Walsh.
Loading ...
