Scott Morrison distances himself from LNP candidate referred to federal police

Scott Morrison has distanced himself from controversy over a Coalition candidate who has been referred to the federal police.

Scott Morrison has distanced himself from a Coalition candidate who has been referred to the federal police over concerns he may have lied about living in his electorate.

Queensland LNP candidate Vivian Lobo allegedly provided false information to the Australian Electoral Commission and has not been living in the ultra marginal seat of Lilley in which he is running.

Asked on Wednesday why he hadn’t disendorsed Mr Lobo, the Prime Minister said: “I would say that has nothing to do with me”.

“Those matters are working their way through with the relevant authorities there and people are co-operating fully with those matters and I would expect them to do that,” he told reporters in the NSW Hunter Valley.

Mr Morrison swerved away from the topic by launching back into his framing of the election as a “choice”.

“But ultimately, and I’ll leave you on this – this is a choice, as I say, every single day,” he said.

“And it’s the responsible choice. The responsible choice at a time of great upheaval globally with our economy, with international security.”

Scott Morrison, out campaigning on the Central Coast on Wednesday, has refused to disendorse Vivian Lobo. Picture: Jason Edwards

The AEC referred Mr Lobo to the Australian Federal Police on Sunday over concerns he provided a false residential address on his candidate enrolment and nomination forms after reviewing the documents.

The AFP confirmed it had received a report from the AEC but said it wouldn’t comment any further as the matter was subject to investigation.

The AEC began looking into the matter after The Australian newspaper reported Mr Lobo had enrolled at an Everton Park home within the Lilley electorate when he was living in the neighbouring electorate of Brisbane.

When The Australian visited the property in Everton Park last week they reportedly found an uninhabited home in a state of disrepair where neighbours told the publication no one had lived there for at least a year.

Queensland LNP candidate Vivian Lobo allegedly provided false information to the Australian Electoral Commission and has not been living in the ultra marginal seat of Lilley in which he is running.

The AEC on Sunday said candidates’ nominations must remain in place, as many postal votes had already been filled out before early voting began on Monday.

Lilley is the most marginal electorate in Queensland, held by Labor MP Anika Wells on a margin of just 0.6 per cent.

Ms Wells told the ABC last Friday Mr Morrison should disavow Mr Lobo as a candidate.

“I don’t think this government is taking my community seriously by acting like that,” she said.

Anthony Albanese on Monday said Mr Morrison “needs do more to respond to the referral of the candidate for Lilley to the Australian Federal Police by the Australian Electoral Commission”.

“This is a really serious issue and the Prime Minister needs to respond as to what action he will take on this issue,” the Labor leader told reporters in Adelaide.

Mr Lobo has said he enrolled in the electorate as he had signed a lease in Everton Park with the intention to move in straight away.

However due to his campaign commitments and difficulty with getting tradespeople to the home, he said he was delayed moving in.

Mr Lobo said it would be inappropriate to comment any further given the matter has been referred to the AFP.