Council fesses up to mistaken election sign removal

The mystery behind a missing election sign has been solved — with those responsible fessing up to the mistake.

Independent candidate Peter George says his election campaign material has been vandalised.

The mystery behind a missing election sign has been solved — with a local council confessing it had the billboard removed by mistake.

Franklin independent candidate Peter George last week condemned the “cowardly” removal of his election material.

But on Monday, the Huon Valley Council confessed it has ordered the sign to be taken down.

“Recently, the Huon Valley Council requested that election candidate Mr Peter George’s team remove a campaign billboard from the Huon Highway at Castle Forbes Bay,” the council said in a statement.

“An internal review of this compliance action was undertaken today which found Tasmanian State Planning Office guidance stating that billboards with existing planning approval are not required to meet the new electoral signage provisions.

“As a result, our request for removal was made in error.”

The council confirmed on Monday election material from other candidates was not affected.

Mr George said the whole affair was a little puzzling.

Independent candidate Peter George says his election campaign material has been vandalised.

“While I accept [the] apology, this should never have occurred in the first place as council staff could easily have checked the regulations before taking action,” he said.

“To remove democratic election signage without clear reason and legal authority is an outrageous action and to do so to an independent campaign whose voice often struggles to be heard above the old parties, is deeply disappointing.”

Mr George said he had been assured there was “no political intent behind the decision to remove the sign”.

The Liberal Party on Sunday called on Mr George to reveal who was funding his campaign.

“How much of his funding has come from mainland Australia do-gooders or from overseas?” Senator Jonno Duniam said.

Mr George said he was happy to disclose his donors under the same rules the Liberal Party observed.

A requests to the Liberal Party to reveal their campaign donors was unsuccessful.

Originally published as Council fesses up to mistaken election sign removal