Federal member slams embattled LNP hopeful over Lilley pad saga

The Opposition Leader has weighed in on the residential status of a Queensland LNP hopeful, calling the issue “really serious”.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to take action on the LNP’s candidate in the ultra-marginal Brisbane-based seat of Lilley, who has not been disendorsed despite being referred to Australian Federal Police over concerns he lied about where he lives.

It come as Vivian Lobo, the LNP’s candidate for Lilley, was not seen at the main pre-polling booth in the electorate on day one of early voting.

Posters encouraging people to vote for him were also sparse on the ground.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese in Adelaide today. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

It is not uncommon for MPs and candidates to live outside their electorate, but providing false declarations to the Australian Electoral Commission about where you live is a crime punishable by up to 12 months in prison or a $12,600 fine.

Mr Lobo is enrolled to vote at an Everton Park address despite that home being unfurnished and dilapidated when visited last week.

It turned out Mr Lobo’s main address was in Windsor, outside the electorate of Lilley.

Mr Albanese, at a press conference in Adelaide, said the issue was “really serious”.

“The Prime Minister needs to respond as to what action he will take on this issue,” he said.

LNP candidate for the seat of Lilley, Vivian Lobo, pictured outside his home in Windsor. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

Mr Lobo claimed he had signed a lease for the home and intended to move in straight away, but was delayed by campaign commitments and difficulty getting tradespeople to the home.

Incumbent Labor Member for Lilley Anika Wells slammed Mr Lobo’s response as disrespectful to constituents.

“Some of my suburbs are still spending an hour a day on the phone to their insurers in flood recovery – we’ve all been through the pandemic,” Ms Wells said.

“People are undergoing genuine hardship and have genuine issues that they need their government to resolve.”

She said the LNP government is “completely absorbed by their own internal fighting to the point where they’ve got these kinds of candidates running around not taking our community seriously.”

Anika Wells at pre-polling for the Federal Election at Chermside Kedron Community Church. Picture: Richard Walker

Despite the controversy, Ms Wells said she would be taking nothing for granted since the last election “was really tight”.

“There are only 1129 votes in Lilley so I won’t be confident until election night,” she said.

The seat is held by Ms Wells with a margin of just 0.6 per cent.

It comes after the Australian Electoral Commission confirmed it referred Mr Lobo to the Australian Federal Police over the allegations.

“Following Mr Lobo’s candidate nomination for the 2022 federal election we have reviewed the declarations made on Mr Lobo’s enrolment and nomination forms,” the AEC stated.

“There is concern as to whether the information provided by him regarding his residential address on these forms is false.”

A statement from the LNP stated Mr Lobo would “fully co-operate with any inquiries”.

Darryl Seccombe at pre-polling for the Federal Election at Chermside Kedron Community Church. Picture: Richard Walker

While at the Chermside Kedron Community Church pre-polling location, former Lilley resident Darryl Seccombe said Mr Lobo’s actions would not swing his vote unless it was found there was “malicious intent” behind his actions.

“I think I only voted for Labor once and that’s when I was in the army,” Mr Seccombe said.

An LNP voter who wished to remain anonymous said they were “more interested in policy rather than a person”.

“We’re Liberal voters – obviously we are concerned about issues of integrity no matter where they fall but it wouldn’t make us change our vote,” they said.

“We’re not in that electorate (Lilley) but we are interested in the party and the policies of the party.”

A sign has been placed at the community church which reads “Lilley LNP Candidate referred to the Australian Federal Police”, with an image of an ABC News article covering the alleged enrolment fraud.

Signage at pre-polling for the Federal Election at Chermside Kedron Community Church with an ABC News article of the alleged incident. Picture: Richard Walker