Ausgrid fines 15 state election candidates for election material attached to power poles

Up to $157,500 in fines have been handed out to 15 political hopefuls who have flouted election guidelines by illegally pitching campaign corflutes to power poles and electrical infrastructure.

Ausgrid has issued fines for corflutes illegally posted on its infrastructure.

Up to $157,500 in fines have been handed out to 15 political hopefuls who have flouted election guidelines by illegally pitching campaign corflutes to power poles and other electrical infrastructure.

A fed-up Ausgrid has removed more than 1050 corflutes so far this state election campaign, following on from the 2500 campaign posters disposed of during the most recent federal election.

State candidates are being asked to cough up to $150 for each corflute disposed of, to helo cover the cost of Ausgrid workers removing the signage.

Ausgrid chief customer officer Rob Amphlett Lewis said the fines, which were being issued for the first time this election campaign, was to deter candidates from taking unnecessary risks.

“One of our key messages is that you should never attempt to climb a power pole, a substation or any electricity asset. It’s too dangerous and not worth the risk,” he said.

An Ausgrid worker pictured removing Allegra Spender’s campaign posters from poles in 2022. Picture: Supplied

An Ausgrid employee confirmed the eastern suburbs had borne the brunt of the fines, in particular the suburbs of Randwick, Kingsford, Waverley, Bronte, Rose Bay and Bellevue Hill.

Other areas where corflutes have been removed from power poles include Strathfield, Beacroft, Caringbah, Petersham, Dee Why, Narrabeen Lakes, Summer Hill, Stanmore, Newtown, Annandale, Glebe and Rozelle.

An Ausgrid employee removing a corflute in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Picture: supplied.

Ausgrid announced in January it would introduce fines to cover the time and imposition caused in identifying and removing illegally posted campaign materials, and followed with a media and social media awareness campaign.

Vaucluse independent candidate Karen Freyer, who has been hit with fines from Ausgrid, said it was unfair as the new policy had not been communicated to her.

“I expect (Ausgrid) do talk to and advise the major parties but I have received no feedback from them,” she said.

The independent candidate said while she understood the energy distributor had been concerned about safety issues, she expected clearer communication for her team of volunteers who had less campaign expertise than the major parties.

An Twitter post from Newtown Labor candidate David Hetherington showed his team putting up corflutes on an electrical pole. Picture: Twitter.

An Ausgrid spokeswoman said the NSW Electoral Commission had been asked to communicate with independent campaigns about the changes due to difficulties contacting candidates.

Labor candidate for Newtown David Hetherington, who posted on social media a photograph of him pitching an election corflute to a power pole, has also been fined. He was contacted for comment.

About 2500 corflutes were removed from electricity infrastructure at the 2022 federal election, where offending campaigns – including that of teal Wentworth MP Allegra Spender – were issued warnings before and after the May 21 election.