Liberal MP is ‘threatened by a man holding a sledgehammer’ in Sydney’s affluent eastern suburbs

A politician campaigning in Sydney’s eastern suburbs was allegedly threatened by a man holding a sledgehammer on Saturday.

Liberal member for Coogee, Bruce Notley-Smith, was drumming up votes on the corner of Coogee Bay Road and Arden St when the alleged incident occurred.

Just after 11am, police allege David Luke Basile, 49, got out of a Holden Commodore, grabbed a sledgehammer, and threatened the politician in the street.

Mr Basile allegedly then got back into his car and drove off.

Officers arrested Basile nearby and charged him with common assault, being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence, possessing an offensive implement in a public place, and stalking and intimidation.  

Mr Basile was refused bail at Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday and is scheduled to front Waverley Local Court on March 19.

Labour and Liberal Party volunteers were seen handing out election brochures in the area. 

Mr Notley-Smith did not wish to elaborate on the incident when asked by the Sydney Morning Herald.

The man was charged with a number of offences and refused bail (pictured L-R; Member for Coogee Bruce Notley-Smith, Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Minister for the Environment,  and Minister for Primary Industries in Sydney in 2018) 

‘As the matter is still being investigated by the police, I believe that it is inappropriate for me to make any comment at this point in time,’ he said.

The MP has held the seat of Coogee since 2011 and was previously the mayor of Randwick.

Politicians across the state are currently ramping up their campaigning efforts ahead of the New South Wales state election, which is scheduled for 23 March 2019.  

A streetview picture of the area where the alleged incident took place on Saturday just after 11am