200+ complaints about council election signs as candidates stick their faces on freeways, bikes, rail crossings

A northern suburbs mayor is being called out after plastering his face on a major freeway and he’s not the only one raising eyebrows with his election signs.

A northern suburbs mayor is under fire after plastering his face along one of Australia’s busiest freeways as Victorian councils grapple with hundred of complaints about election signs.

Hume mayor Naim Kurt was called out by another sitting councillor who is running against him after his election posters appeared on the Tullamarine Freeway sound barrier and columns along the Mickleham Rd underpass.

Jodi Jackson was gobsmacked to see Mr Kurt’s face on the freeway, which carries about 21,000 vehicles daily.

“I’m absolutely disgusted that the mayor would be so disrespectful to vandalise the city like this,” she said.

But Mr Kurt argued his posters complied with election material guidelines and he had not received any complaints.

Rival candidate Jodi Jackson says the mayor should know better. Picture: supplied

Ms Jones said Mr Kurt pasted similar posted in the same locations for the 2020 council elections.

“He copped a bollocking for it at the time and was told to get down there are clean it off,” she said.

However, four years later the 2020 posters were still visible, despite being painted over.

Ms Jackson said the act was particularly galling because the council had a massive problem with illegal dumping and spending $6m a year on the clean-up bill.

“He’s the mayor. He’s the face of the council and should be setting the example.” she said.

Mr Kurt said the underpass was a “general signage area” and he was not told he needed special permission to put up election posters.

“VicRoads confirmed it’s not their property and the department did not communicate that requirement when asked,” he said.

He added: “All material would be removed after the election period.”

Old posters from Naim Kurt’s 2020 election campaign are still visible. Picture: supplied

According to the Department of Transport and Planning placing signs in the road reserve or on land owned by the department of transport was prohibited without written permission.

““There is a clear process for political advertising signs placed within arterial road reserves or land owned by the Department of Transport and Planning – all of which requires the prior written consent of the Department,” a department spokesperson said.

Those caught breaking the rules can asked to remove their signs.

Mr Kurt was not the only candidate with election signs that didn’t pass the pub test.

A Herald Sun investigation revealed Victorian councils received more than 200 complaints about “illegal” election signs in the first few weeks of the campaign.

In Casey, where elections were being held for the first time since 2016, a whopping 60 signs were reported.

The unauthorised signs were impounded and the candidates responsible re-educated and warned further violations may lead to infringements being issued.

Corflutes were also an issue in Nillumbik (31 complaints) and the council had warned 10 candidates and referred two to the Department of Transport.

Eight reports warranted no action as the signs were removed and a further 11 complaints were still under investigation.

In Wyndham, 29 complaints had been investigated and some signs removed from council land.

Private property owners had also been asked to remove illegal corflutes.

Kingston council candidate Georgina Oxley’s election signs are being vandalised and ripped down. Picture: supplied

Kingston candidates were last week in the spotlight after elections signs were vandalised and then ripped off railings and thrown onto the train line between Chelsea and Edithvale stations.

The brazen act was filmed and sent to sitting councillor Georgina Oxley and her husband David Eden, who both running for re-election.

The act was reported to police.

Meanwhile, the council has received 20 complaints about corflutes and asked candidates with non-compliant signs to remove them within 24 hours.

The Herald Sun understands some of the complaints were related to signs attached to rail crossings and fencing.

Meanwhile, in leafy inner Melbourne a candidate’s “interesting way to reach the public” was deemed a breach of campaigning rules.

South Yarra ward candidate Kate Hely is padlocking corflutes to bicycles on council land. Picture: supplied.

Kate Hely had to remove campaign corflutes attached to bicycles on council property throughout South Yarra ward.

According to the Victorian Electoral Commission standards, advertising boards such as A-frames and corflutes “require a permit from the council and must not be attached to council assets or other public infrastructure, including street poles, public transport shelters and signs, fences, roads and buildings”.

Ms Hely, who is a sitting councillor, said she hadn’t realised her signage breached the campaigning rules.

“I did a similar series of signage during the last election and had no issues,” she said.

“As soon as we were made aware it breached the rules they signs were removed.

“Now we just have to find another interesting way to reach the public.”

Sitting councillor and candidate Glen Milne is worried about how campaign material is being displayed in Mildura. Picture: supplied

Mildura Council did not provide the number of complaints it had received about election signs,

However, councillor Glenn Milne, who is standing in Kings Billabong Ward, said some candidates were placing unauthorised election signs and distributing materials on council property.

“There’s growing concern among candidates that everyone should play by the same rules,” he said.

He said some candidates had handed out campaign materials during events on council land without proper authorisation.

Council Watch president Dean Hurlston said the watchdog had received hundreds of similar reports about multiple candidates since council election campaigning began.

“Without clear rules, we are worried we’ll be seeing more poor campaigning tactics,” he said.
He called for inspectors to be allowed to issue fines, instead of just warnings.