Federal election 2019: Liberal volunteer stabbed with corkscrew in Warringah

A Liberal volunteer has been attacked with a corkscrew while putting up posters in Tony Abbott’s electorate of Warringah, on election eve.

Mr Abbott said it had been a “very ugly” campaign with a “lot of low blows“, noting that a Liberal volunteer was attacked with a corkscrew while putting up posters in Balgowlah on election eve.

The 31-year-old was stabbed in the stomach, causing a minor injury.

The alleged 62-year-old attacker, who also tore down banners, was later arrested and charged with two counts of common assault.

Mr Abbott said it had been a “very ugly” campaign with a “lot of low blows“,

“Lucky he wasn’t seriously hurt,” the former Liberal leader said of the volunteer.

“He’s back at his post today.”

Independent candidate Zali Steggall said the incident was “appalling” but doesn’t believe the alleged culprit was linked to her campaign.

“We have checked and I don’t (believe) that they are. I would be extremely shocked and extremely disappointed (if they were),” she told reporters.

“We should be respecting everybody and that’s just an appalling incident.”

Mr Abbott suffered a nine per cent primary vote swing against him at the 2016 election and now holds the seat with an 11 per cent margin.

But some pundits have ranked independent Ms Steggall the favourite.

Asked by a voter whether he is going to win on Saturday, Mr Abbott said he was “not too cocky” but quietly confident.

“I’ve always been a nervous candidate,” he told reporters after casting his vote and buying a loaf of banana bread from the school cake stall.

Ms visited a number of polling booths before casting her vote alongside her husband Tim Irving at Balgowlah North Public School on Saturday morning.

She said voters were ready for change and believes replacing Mr Abbott after 25 years was “absolutely achievable”.

“I’ll take my read from the people I’m talking to and they are confident for change,” she said.