New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet has condemned the behaviour of a Liberal Party volunteer, who was sent home from a polling booth after making a racist remark to an Indigenous firefighter.
On Saturday, Liberal volunteers for Camden MP Peter Sidgreaves and Wollondilly MP Nathanial Smith were handing out campaign material at a pre-polling booth on Oxley Street, Camden.
Several professional firefighters were also present, campaigning about under-resourcing.
An Indigenous firefighter — who has asked not to be named — said he was confronted by an older volunteer from the Liberal party who argued firefighters were paid too much.
Later in the day, the firefighter said the volunteer repeatedly used racist slurs against him.
"I told him many others would not be happy with him using that word and that he should stop because someone couldn't be as patient as I am being," the firefighter said.
"I was quite stern at this point as this was the third remark he had made in the matter of minutes."
The slur was overheard by a volunteer supporting Wollondilly independent candidate Judith Hannan, who is contesting the seat for a second time.
"This was so disappointing and disrespectful and I am asking this man be removed from assisting with their campaign," Ms Hannan said on the weekend.
Today Premier Dominic Perrottet fiercely condemned the comments and said the volunteer had been sent home from the booth.
"That type of behaviour is not acceptable, whether that's on a polling booth in our state or anywhere in society," he said.
"[We have] zero tolerance of that type of behaviour.
"He has been sent home. I don't want any of that."
Mr Perrottet issued a warning to anyone campaigning in the lead-up to the Saturday election.
"[Campaigning is] obviously robust, and it's a great aspect of our democracy here in Australia, but please do so with respect, understanding and tolerance to people you are campaigning with.
"We should have great spirit at our polling booths — that type of behaviour is completely unacceptable and has no place in our state."
Fire Brigade Employees Union state secretary Leighton Drury said the remark was disgraceful.
"It is appalling that Aboriginal firefighters should face this racism, and we call on the candidates and the party to apologise for that behaviour," Mr Drury said.
The firefighter said he expected party volunteers to act with respect to all.
"I do believe when someone is representing a political party that they should behave in a better way, as everyone is there for a positive reason."
Mr Sidgreaves holds the seat of Camden on a comfortable margin of 7.3 per cent while Mr Smith is hoping to retain control of the more marginal Wollondilly.
