Electoral breach: ALP candidate for Parramatta Andrew Charlton enrolled at old address

Labor’s Parramatta candidate And­rew Charlton has blamed an ‘oversight’ for breaching electoral laws after listing a Woollahra rental owned by his wife as his place of ­residence.

Star Labor candidate And­rew Charlton has blamed an “oversight” for breaching electoral laws after listing a Woollahra rental owned by his wife as his place of ­residence.

While Mr Charlton moved to the electorate of Parramatta after splashing out on a new, four-bedroom house only last month, he is ­not enrolled at the North Parramatta property nor at the $16.1 million Bellevue Hill mansion he previously lived in.

Instead, Mr Charlton is ­enrolled at a four-bedroom terrace at Jersey Rd in Woollahra, which property titles searches reveal is owned by his barrister wife, Phoebe Arcus.

Under the Commonwealth Electoral Act, Australians enrolled to vote are required to update their ­enrolment after a month of changing addresses.

Failure to do so is a strict liability criminal offence.

Labor candidate for Parramatta Andrew Charlton. Picture: David Swift

The enrolment breach follows calls by Labor for Liberal National candidate Vivian Lobo to be disendorsed over allegations he provided a false residential address to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).

Mr Lobo, who is running in the ultra-marginal Queensland seat of Lilley, is accused of alleged enrolment fraud after claiming to live in the inner Brisbane electorate even though the property has appeared to be uninhabited, and in a state of disrepair.

While Mr Lobo has been residing at a different home outside the electorate, he has maintained he enrolled in the electorate of Lilley as he had “signed a lease in Everton Park with the intention to move in straight away”.

As the AEC has referred the matter Australian Federal Police (AFP), the Coalition has demanded the breach by Mr Charlton also be referred. There is no suggestion ­either man has engaged in fraud.

“Mr Charlton’s admission means Labor must meet the standard they have set and refer their candidate to the AFP for investigation,” a ­Coalition campaign spokesman said.

“Given Labor have said other candidates accused of this very offence should be disendorsed, it is on Mr Albanese to justify how Mr Charlton can still be Labor’s candidate for Parramatta.”

Andrew Charlton and his wife’s three properties (clockwise from left) at Woollahra, Parramatta and Bellevue Hill.

Mr Charlton and his wife purchased the Bellevue Hill mansion at the end of 2020.

The home in Woollahra – purchased in 2005 for just under $1.6 million – has been leased since 2013.

It was most recently listed for rent in November last year for $1450 per week.

Curiously, Mr Charlton’s wife is enrolled at their new home in Parramatta.

Mr Charlton has also promoted reminders on social media for voters to update their enrolment in April 2022.

When The Saturday Telegraph asked for an explanation, Mr Charlton blamed an oversight for the error.

“Today my wife and I have updated our enrolment ­details,” he said.

“We both lead very busy lives and this was an oversight, for which I take responsibility and apologise.”

Mr Charlton was parachuted into Parramatta after receiving critical endorsement from Labor leader ­Anthony Albanese.

The selection of the former Rudd economic adviser and wealthy businessman followed ongoing factional brawling over candidates among local Labor branches in the must-win marginal seat.

Held by Labor with a 3.5 per cent margin, the Coalition has been in the hunt for votes, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison personally making several visits.

The newly-installed candidate has copped criticism for being an outsider, including after struggling to answer a question about what were his favourite local eateries.

However, Mr Charlton has vowed to meet as many locals as he could until election day next weekend.

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Originally published as Electoral breach: ALP candidate for Parramatta Andrew Charlton enrolled at old address