LNP candidate issued court summons over home address

A former LNP candidate is facing charges for allegedly lying about where he was living during the 2022 federal election campaign.

Vivian Lobo, the LNP’s candidate for Lilley at the 2022 federal election. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

A former Liberal National Party candidate is facing charges for allegedly lying about where he was living during the 2022 federal election campaign.

Vivian Lobo, the last-minute LNP candidate for the Queensland seat of Lilley, was issued court summons by the Australian Federal Police for allegedly providing a false address to the nation’s electoral commission after a 20-month investigation.

Mr Lobo was referred to police by the Australian Electoral Commission, after The Australian revealed his claimed address in Everton Park was abandoned and dilapidated.

When The Australian visited the house in May 2022, the home had no furniture, the garden was in a state of disrepair and neighbours said no one had lived at the home for at least a year.

The Australian photographed Mr Lobo leaving for work from another house – a 23 minute drive away in Windsor – in his car that was branded “Vivian Lobo Candidate for Lilley”.

Property records show Mr Lobo bought the Windsor property in December 2017 for $726,000, settling on it in February 2018.

The Windsor home was in the neighbouring electorate of Brisbane, then held by LNP MP Trevor Evans. Mr Lobo’s home had a Trevor Evans’ corflute on the fence.

The AEC classifies registering a false address with them as being “enrolment fraud” which can carry a penalty of 12 months imprisonment.

Mr Lobo ran against now-Labor minister Anika Wells in the ultra-marginal seat of Lilley at the 2022 election. Ms Wells increased her margin from 0.6 per cent to a safe 10.5 per cent at the poll.

In a statement, the AFP said the Queensland man would appear in court on four counts of knowingly providing false or misleading information.

“The man, 41, is expected to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on February, 16 2024, after he was summonsed on January 20, 2024, as a result of an investigation launched following a referral from the AEC,” the statement read.

“The referral raised concerns the man allegedly provided false or misleading information to the AEC in relation to the residential address of himself and family members.”

Mr Lobo, who was contacted for comment, has previously said he would co-operate with police inquiries.

He was named as the candidate for Lilley in February 2022, replacing army veteran Ryan Shaw who withdrew for personal and health reasons.

When asked in May 2022 about the apparent discrepancy, Mr Lobo said he had signed a lease for the Everton Park property and was intending to move in.