The Liberal Party is set to challenge the Boroondara Council in court following a dispute over campaign signage at a pre-polling station in Kew, Melbourne. Earlier today, council officials removed campaign signs from Amelia Hamer, the Liberal candidate for Kooyong, citing regulations against “non-permitted advertising.”
This year, Boroondara Council implemented a rule limiting each political party to one sign outside polling stations, aiming to mitigate safety concerns stemming from excessive advertising that obstructed footpaths. In a statement, a representative for the Coalition campaign voiced that the Liberal Party sought judicial intervention to prevent what they claim to be unlawful council actions. They argued that the limitations unfairly favoured one candidate and restricted candidates from the other three electorates represented at the Kew site, including those contesting for the Senate. The spokesperson emphasised that the restrictions also hindered the outreach to non-English speaking communities.
The council’s mayor, Sophie Torney, who previously stood as a teal independent candidate for Kew in the 2022 state election, faced scrutiny over alleged political bias, but there is no evidence suggesting the council acted along those lines. Councillors had previously informed all candidates of the trading permit requirements in writing prior to the election announcement. Reports indicate that Hamer was the only candidate to disregard these rules.
The Liberal Party threatened legal action if the council did not retract its advertising regulations by 3pm yesterday. In response, Boroondara Council expressed its commitment to consider all advertising permit applications promptly and fairly, while reiterating that their primary concern lies in maintaining public safety, clear pedestrian access, and overall community amenity. The council hopes candidates will respect these requirements to ensure a safe and accessible environment for voters.