Frankston 'shame': former Libs volunteer targeted on Facebook after making Green cry

A former Liberal Party campaign volunteer who left a Greens member in tears after a community meeting involving Tony Abbott has been targeted on Facebook.
The Frankston community meeting was organised by federal Liberal MP Bruce Billson and the Opposition Leader received a standing ovation from the crowd of about 300 people when he arrived.
But after a series of questions to Mr Abbott from the audience condemning the carbon tax, Greens member Vicky Kasidis said she supported it.

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'Get back under a rock' ... Declan Stephenson lets fly at Ms Kasidis.

She was heckled by some members of the crowd, before being told to "get back under a rock" by a former volunteer for the Liberal party Declan Stephenson.
Ms Kasidis, from Edithvale, fled the building in tears, followed by several reporters and Mr Stephenson.
Mr Stephenson repeatedly refused requests to stop following Ms Kasidis, despite her saying she was scared of him.
He left after police arrived and Ms Kasidis entered a car. Mr Billson, who denied the meeting audience was hand-picked, condemned Mr Stephenson’s behaviour.

Tony Abbott allowed Ms Kasidid to ask her question before she was hounded out of the meeting. Photo: Louie Douvis

A Facebook page called ‘‘Declan Stephenson should be ashamed’’ was created late yesterday.
The page contains video on the incident and more than 5o people have liked the page.
‘‘This man MUST be held to shame for his harassment, his belittling and his bastardisation of a person exercising their democratic right. If this is the quality of the supporters of Tony Abbott, then god help us. Stupid old, moronic fart of a git,’’ one person said.
Others said the issue was not about political parties, but about the right to not feel intimidated.
According to the page’s info section, it was created because ‘‘regardless of your political alliance, the way that Declan Stephenson harassed Vicky Kasidis at a Frankston Community Forum is appalling and he should be publicly shamed for such inhuman behaviour.
‘‘To follow her out of the building and stand over, intimidating her, is harassment and depriving her of her human right to feel safe and secure. He should apologise.’’
Mr Billson denied the meeting audience was hand-picked, despite Ms Kasidis saying she had been asked whether she belonged to a political party or owned a small business when she registered for the forum. Mr Billson condemned Mr Stephenson’s behaviour.
Mr Stephenson said: ’’Why did an avowed green who doesn’t live in the community go to a community meeting with the intention to disrupt in some manner or form that meeting?’’



Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/national/frankston-shame-former-libs-volunteer-targeted-on-facebook-after-making-green-cry-20110714-1hf8k.html#ixzz1S3cMoyBA