Councillor says corflutes, flyers are ‘visual pollution’ and should be removed within seven days

An Alice Springs councillor says the political corflutes and flyers littering Alice Springs are ‘visual pollution’ and should have been removed within seven days of the federal election.

AN ALICE Springs councillor has called the political flyers and corflutes spread throughout town post-election “visual pollution.”

Alice Springs Councillor Allison Bitar said there shouldn’t be any more litter from the election left in town and it needed to be removed immediately.

“Election signs post elections create unsightly visual pollution,” she said.

“It is imperative that signs are removed promptly post election.

“Election teams should do a double check that they have taken down all signs, as signage should be removed within seven days. “

Federal Election TRASH: Damien Ryan flyer on the road after the election.

A spokesman for the Australian Electoral Commission said they had no responsibility or regulations surrounding election litter.

“The AEC has no role in the collection of corflutes and other party signage following the election,” he said.

“Broadly, the candidates and parties themselves are responsible for collecting their own signage, though individual local councils may have specific rules around the timing/disposal.”

Controversy surrounding corflutes ramped up during this year’s federal election as vandalising the corrugated plastic became commonplace.

Councils in Alice Springs and Darwin have been contacted for comment.

Up to 50 Country Liberal Party corflutes were damaged over a single weekend in Darwin during the month of the election.

Federal Election TRASH: Corflute for SAM McMAHON tied to a public tree after the election

Free political communication is an implied freedom under the Australian Constitution, although the high level of environmental damage the flyers and corflutes have made this election could spark more regulations surrounding election litter.