Scott Morrison mural removed because it was political

Removal of a Scott Morrison mural was made because of internal policy rather than in support of the Prime Minister, building owners have said.

A mural of Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Austin Ln lasted just hours before building owners painted over it. Picture: GLENN CAMPBELL

Removal of a briefly iconic Scott Morrison mural was made because of internal policy rather than in support of the Prime Minister, building owners have said.

The Icon property manager Vince Albertoni said the company didn’t remove the art in solidarity of the prime minister but rather followed internal policy given the political nature of the work.

“We’ve got no dramas with street art being on there but an internal policy is if it is anything political or has any curse words we just paint over it,” he said.

The follow painting was also painted over. Picture by Che Chorley.

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“Obviously this one being political, policy is to paint over it, we’re not politically aligned.”

Mr Albertoni said it wasn’t the first time the building had painted over street art and would continue to do so according to the building’s policy.

“We’ve owned it for five six years, a few instances with curse words we’ve painted over,” he said.

“It’s no dramas with that specific painting.”

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The initial mural by local artist Pablo Conrad depicting the prime minister saying “How good is Hawaii” with Hawaii crossed out and replaced with Australia, was painted on Sunday and painted over on Monday morning.

A second mural in its place saying “Be back in 5 – Scott M” was also removed shortly after it was painted.