The Mayor of Melbourne has blasted vandals for derailing a popular street art series celebrating Australia’s multicultural identity, after posters featuring the face of the alleged Bondi gunman were plastered across the city’s CBD.
Around 50 posters, styled to mimic Adelaide artist Peter Drew’s recognisable Aussie series, appeared overnight in multiple locations.
The copycat images featured alleged shooter Naveed Akram beneath the word “Aussie”.
Lord Mayor Nick Reece described the act as “absolutely abhorrent” and “just sick”, rejecting any suggestion the posters could be interpreted as artistic commentary.
“His posters are a powerful provocation about Australia’s history and national identity, and a great example of how contemporary street art can function as social activism,” Reece said.
“For Drew’s work to be hijacked and appropriated into images of hatred and division is absolutely abhorrent.”
“To use the image of the Bondi shooter is just sick. Families are still grieving, the community is still grieving. There is no possible universe in which this can be seen as an artistic response to the original series.”
The Bondi attack killed 15 people, including a 10-year-old child, and injured dozens more. Akram has since been charged with 59 offences.
Reece said the posters were removed by council crews within an hour of being reported and described the vandalism as a deliberate, organised exercise to shock and spread hate.
“About 50 posters were plastered around the city. The detail we have suggests it was a co-ordinated effort,” he said.
“Our approach is ‘whatever it takes’. We are not going to tolerate hateful, racist material on the streets of our city – for even one hour.”
Reece confirmed Victoria Police had been notified and that CCTV footage showed the perpetrators were “clearly visible”.
Under a new city policy, racist or hateful material will be removed within an hour of being reported.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion said the posters were a “devastating and disrespectful” act that caused further harm to victims and their families.
“The Bondi terrorists will fade into history and their names will be forgotten,” he said.
“The people who will be remembered are the victims, the survivors, and the heroes who rushed in to help. They represent the true Aussie spirit.”
Images: ABC / Instagram
