A man has been charged with assaulting the husband of a Liberal candidate for the Victorian state election in a clash over campaign signage.
The incident on Sunday afternoon involved the husband of Amanda Dow, the Liberals' candidate for the outer-suburban seat of Yan Yean, a Liberal Party spokesperson said.
"We understand Ms Dow's husband approached a member of the public who was removing Liberal Party campaign signage and was allegedly assaulted," the spokesperson said late on Monday.
"He suffered facial injuries and was taken to hospital and was discharged today."
A 59-year-old man has been arrested and charged with reckless cause injury, criminal damage and unlawful assault over the incident in Mernda.
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"Police have been told the victim attended an address to retrieve political campaign signage when he was assaulted," a Victoria Police spokesperson said.
The accused has been bailed to face Heidelberg Magistrates' Court on 1 February.
"We ask that the privacy of Ms Dow and her husband be respected while he recovers," the party spokesperson said.
Labor, seeking a historic fourth term in office at the 28 November election, trails the Liberal-National coalition by 10 points on a two-party preferred basis, according to the latest Newspoll published on Monday.
Premier Ben Carroll has brushed off the downbeat numbers, pointing to the shock loss of the Jeff Kennett Liberal-National coalition at the 1999 state election.
"There's another poll called the door-knocking poll," Carroll said on day two of Labor's official ground campaign.
The premier repeated his claim that Liberal leader Jess Wilson would strike a deal with One Nation if the coalition won the election, ending 12 years in opposition.
Wilson, who on Monday pledged $5 billion to fix one million potholes on state roads, reiterated opposition to a deal with One Nation.
"There is no deal. There will be no deal," she said.
"The only way to change the direction of Victoria is with the majority Liberals and Nationals government."
