EDITOR'S NOTE: The High Court overturned Cardinal George Pell's conviction for historic child sex offences in a judgment handed down April 7, 2020. In a unanimous decision all seven High Court judges found Victoria's Court of Appeal should not have upheld Pell's conviction. It found the evidence could not support a guilty verdict. Independent candidate for Warringah Zali Steggall has strongly rejected any suggestion her team was behind offensive posters of Tony Abbott that appeared around the electorate on Thursday morning and which are now being investigated by NSW Police. Asked about the posters, Mr Abbott hit out at "nasty people" and suggested voters should back him to punish bad behaviour. Offensive Tony Abbott signs have been spotted around Sydney's northern suburbs. Police confirmed on Thursday afternoon they are seeking the assistance of two men, aged in their late 20s or early 30s, and have released CCTV footage of the pair.<doc-sep>Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has faced off against newcomer Zali Steggall in Warringah debate. Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has faced off against newcomer Zali Steggall in Warringah debate.... Posters of Tony Abbott with “coal lobby” and “c**t” written on his forehead, pasted up in Sydney’s northern beaches, have outraged politicians and caught the attention of police. The posters appeared in different locations across Manly yesterday, including Manly Road, and Henrietta Lane, Manly. The posters depict the former prime minister and Member for Warringah grinning, with slogans emblazoned on his forehead, including the phrase, “100% c**t”, “coal lobby” and “Pell”. Overnight Mr Abbott faced a leadership debate with his opponent in the seat of Warringah, Zali Steggall. At the end of the debate, Mr Abbott, said the graffiti he’d seen of his face was “tacky”, labelling the moves of a political opponent. Yesterday, police said they were seeking two men seen carrying posters and a toolbox in CCTV, to assist them with their inquiries into paste ups, which police labelled “offensive posters”. Police are now searching for the two men, described as being caucasian in appearance, both aged in their late 20s or early 30s. “One man was wearing a yellow beanie and a white T-shirt with jeans and work boots. He has a tattoo on the inside of his right arm, and a moustache,” NSW Police said. “The other man was wearing a black hoodie with a black peak cap and dark blue trackpants. He has a beard and a moustache.” At the end of the fiery leadership debate for the seat of Warringah last night, reporters asked Mr Abbott about the posters, which he labelled a tactic by his opponents. “The stuff, the graffiti that was put up by my political opponents was really tacky beyond belief,” Mr Abbott said. The Party Games newsletter Get your political briefing from news.com.au's political editor Samantha Maiden. Sign up The Party Games newsletter Success! Check your inbox for details. See all newsletters Ms Steggall, his opponent in the seat of Warringah, said she thought the posters were “in poor taste,” adding, “I’ve been the subject of a smear campaign pretty much non stop, since I announced.” Online, the artist received praise from commenters. “Anyone with information about the two men should contact the National Australia Day Council so we can nominate them for Australian(s) Of The Year,” a man wrote on the NSW Police Force Facebook. “Give em Australian of the Year!! !” wrote another. “If it was about a Politician, chances are 99% of Australia would NOT find it offensive,” wrote another commenter. “Offensive? I think not,” another commented, with laughing emojis. A graffiti artist familiar with the work was contacted for this story. They were not immediately able to make a comment. Continue the conversation | mailto:phoebe.loomes@news.com.au @dollyybird<doc-sep>The two candidates defined it as a battle between "strength and stability" and "a new era". And if the emotion on display at Queenscliff on Thursday night was anything to go by, the battle for the federal seat of Warringah is just heating up. Key points: The debate covered topics like climate change, electric cars, religious rights and tax The debate covered topics like climate change, electric cars, religious rights and tax It was at times tense with the candidates clashing on a number of issues It was at times tense with the candidates clashing on a number of issues Mr Abbott was escorted by local police through protesters outside the venue Former prime minister Tony Abbott and barrister and former Olympian Zali Steggall went head-to-head in a live televised debate in front of a small group of voters in the Sydney seat, which polling suggests will be a tight race come May 18. Mr Abbott was led into the event flanked by local police as climate change protesters and supporters of Ms Steggall battled to display their signs among a throng of Tony Abbott supporters. Some chanted "Tony, Tony, Tony" in support, others held "Stop Adani" signs while one protestor wore an oversized head of Mr Abbott and held a sign announcing that "climate change is crap". Protesters gather outside a debate between Warringah candidates Zali Steggell and Tony Abbott. ( ABC News Hosted by Sky News, the debate canvassed a range of issues such as climate change, electric cars, the same-sex marriage debate, religious rights and tax policy. In his opening remarks the incumbent Tony Abbott, who had to deal with a number of obscene posters plastered across the Warringah electorate, centred his argument on stability. "This is a local election, but it's also a national election," Mr Abbott told the crowd. "And I want to see a strong government in Canberra which keeps our communities safe and economy strong. I know some of you are thinking about a protest vote, fair enough. "But just remember this — a protest vote in Warringah could give you a Labor government in Canberra." That line brought jeers from the crowd and host David Speers had to remind the audience — at times very vocal — to respect both candidates. The proposed Northern Beaches tunnel was a focus-point in opening remarks and throughout the debate, with Mr Abbott claiming he was the only one to support it and independents "inevitably [sit] on the fence". Ms Steggall said she supported the Northern Beaches tunnel, provided it had an air filtration system. The candidates discussed electric cars and solar power and clashed on climate-change policy. ( Sky News In her opening remarks Ms Steggall said it was "time for a new era". "We have a chance to choose," she said. "It's time for a new era, it's time to stop looking back to the past and focus on our future. "I'm committed to making sure your concerns are represented in Parliament. "I know how important it is to have politicians who knows [what] is difficult about your lives, they are my priorities — not personal agenda, not revenge, promotion or ambition." Climate change gets oxygen Climate change came up often during the debate, with Mr Abbott telling the audience he thought it was important to do "the right thing by the planet". "But what we can't do is save the planet at the expense of our neighbour," he said. Ms Steggall said Australian needed action, such as the establishment of an independent authority on climate change, like the Reserve Bank, to de-politicise the issue. "I want to see us invest," she said. "We have the most natural resources for renewables." There are less than three weeks left for Warringah voters to decide whether they want stability or change.<doc-sep>
Former prime minister Tony Abbott says politics has hit a new low, after obscene posters were put up across his electorate of Warringah in Sydney. Key points: Mr Abbott holds the seat on a 11.1 per cent margin Mr Abbott holds the seat on a 11.1 per cent margin He does not blame any other candidates for the posters He does not blame any other candidates for the posters His main challenger, Zali Steggall, tweeted that she had been under a "non-stop smear campaign from Mr Abbott and his supporters" Several caricatured heads daubed with expletives, and others emblazoned with the word "Pell" were found in Manly, Mosman and Seaforth. NSW Police released footage on Thursday afternoon of two men they believe could "assist with inquiries" into the posters erected in Manly overnight. Police said they "became aware of posters" pasted onto walls in four separate locations in Manly depicting a Federal MP with "offensive language written across the top". Mr Abbott said he did not believe any of his political opponents were to blame for the posters, which have also been plastered on walls outside his electorate. The two men police said could help with their inquiries ( NSW Police Mr Abbott is under pressure from high-profile independent Zali Steggall, who is considered a chance to unseat him and his 11.1 per cent margin. "This is a new nastiness in Australian politics, not suggesting that any of the candidates are somehow doing this but it is a fact that there are some pretty nasty people who want change here in Warringah," he said. "I say to all the decent people in Australia, if you want to try to lift the tone of our public life and to lift the equality of our national conversation, don't in any way give aid and comfort to these nasty elements," he said. Ms Steggall took to Twitter to condemn the posters. "My volunteers have signed an extensive code of conduct," she wrote. "They are under strict instructions not to engage in negative behaviour, as I have been the subject of a non-stop smear campaign from Mr Abbott and his supporters and do not condone that type of politics. Independent Zali Steggall said her campaign was not responsible for the posters. ( Supplied "I strongly reject any allegation that the posters have anything to do with my campaign or my volunteers, and call upon anyone suggesting that it does to provide evidence." Last week, lobby group GetUp! pulled an advertisement depicting Mr Abbott as an apathetic surf lifesaver who refuses to help a drowning swimmer. The satirical ad mocking Mr Abbott's stance on climate change was widely criticised, even by the Royal Life Saving Society.