A young Liberal candidate has been subjected to vile abuse over her looks, including being told that her views don’t matter, only her breasts.
Brooke Vitnell, 30, is hoping to win the marginal seat of Paterson in the NSW Hunter region off Labor’s Meryl Swanson.
Four years ago, it was someone from her own side of politics – former Queensland Opposition leader John-Paul Langbroek – who made a lewd online comment about Ms Vitnell.
But now the glamorous lawyer is being targeted by supporters of other parties – and its costing her campaign thousands of dollars to replace defaced posters.
In 2018, Mr Langbroek posted a suggestive comment about Ms Vitnell’s cleavage on social media.
He posted the symbols ‘(.)(.)’, which represent boobs, next to a photo of her with her husband at the Parliament House Midwinter Ball.
Now, with the federal election 11 days away and pre-polling already open, Ms Vitnell is being subjected to horrifying trolling – including being called a ‘s..t’ and and ‘bimbo’ with ‘no brains’.
‘Because I’m a bottle blonde and I dye my hair, they’re just savaging me for my looks,’ Ms Vitnell said.
Many online comments attacking Ms Vitnell use symbols to refer to her breasts in the same manner as her Liberal colleague Mr Langbroek, whose sister is the radio host and Project panellist Kate Langbroke, previously did.
Ms Vitnell, who is an advocate for abuse victims, said ‘the left’ is using appearance to attack candidates such as herself in ‘tight races’.
She said she fears such attacks will put the next generation of women off going into politics.
‘Our parliament desperately needs to be more representative of society, and that includes young women,’ she said.
Ms Vitnell’s husband Julian Leembruggen is Scott Morrison’s communications adviser.
The prime minister appeared alongside Ms Vitnell last November, saying he was ‘thrilled’ that women had stepped forward to take up roles in politics.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Vitnell seeking comment for this story.