Police investigating Bluff Rock vandalism believed to be targeting Cr Thomas Brough

Police are investigating after a vandal allegedly painted “T. Brough SUX D” in 2m high letters on a prominent Albany landmark, believed to be targeting City of Albany councillor Thomas Brough. The words were spotted Thursday morning, painted in large white letters on the west-facing side of Bluff Rock in Burmup Reserve, Spencer Park. A member of the public reported the incident to police on Wednesday evening when an early attempt in smaller blue letters was half written. The same person contacted police on Thursday morning when the 2m white letters appeared. Albany police officer in charge Carlos Correia said police are investigating. “Vandalism is a serious offence and anybody found to be involved or have taken part in this will be subject to criminal charges and receive the proper penalty in due course,” he said. “When monuments are involved, this means criminal damage. “Obviously, the culprit has an agenda, and it’s up to the person in question whether to press defamation charges if they are caught, but this behaviour isn’t acceptable.” City of Albany chief executive Andrew Sharpe said the city is working to remove the tag from the landmark and “prioritises instances of offensive content”. “It’s disheartening to see any form of vandalism, and city staff are actively working on removing this particular piece of graffiti,” he said. In March, Cr Brough came under fire for comments made in local government ordinary council meeting when he stated that the plus in LGBTIQA+ “includes people who identify as minor-attracted persons”. “Minor-attracted person” is a euphemism for paedophile, popularised by US advocacy group B4U-ACT. The Advertiser spotted items, including roller brushes and a plastic tray of white paint, just under the words on the rock on Thursday afternoon. Cr Brough has been contacted for comment.