Election 2022: Josh Frydenberg’s billboard foot soldiers keep his campaign on track

Josh Frydenberg is paying promotional models $30 an hour to work as human billboards in a desperate bid to hold on to his once blue-ribbon seat of Kooyong.

Carrying Coalition hopes on their shoulders, billboard-wearing workers trudge the streets of Hawthorn in Melbourne. Picture: Aaron Francis

Josh Frydenberg is paying promotional models $30 an hour to work as human billboards in a desperate bid to hold on to his once blue-ribbon seat of Kooyong.

A job advertisement for “Walking Board Staff” was posted to Seek by Super Performance Promotions last month.

It explained that the Kooyong camp was looking for casual workers to walk the streets of the Melbourne electorate between 7.30am and 6pm while wearing “Keep Josh” billboards.

The billboards weigh 7kg and feature a photograph of the Treasurer on the back. Each shift lasts for four hours and comes with a total pay packet of $120.

The billboard blitz started on Saturday, and runs until election day on May 21. It is understood there are still shifts to fill.

Applicants are advised that “you must not have any pre-existing injury that would limit your ability to perform the role (ie: back injuries)”. “Fit people with capacity to wear walking boards (human billboards) for 4-hour periods – you will be roaming the area for the shift period with short break ­periods of boards off shoulders throughout – the boards weigh over 7kg,” the ad says.

The ideal candidates are ­described as “outgoing, reliable, presentable & enthusiastic”, who own “plain black pants and (a) plain black basic T-shirt”.

Liberal campaigners suggest that Mr Frydenberg was forced to look for lifters, not leaners, after the pool of volunteers and Young Liberals had dried up. “Young Libs don’t like hard work,” one source complained.

It is understood the current billboard carriers are in their 20s and 30s, mainly university students, with no political affiliation.

The Liberal Party did not respond to requests for comment.

Carrying Coalition hopes on their shoulders, billboard-wearing workers trudge the streets of Hawthorn in Melbourne. Picture: Aaron Francis

The human billboards were out in force at the Hawthorn pre-polling site this week, where they caught the attention of Mr Frydenberg’s main rival, independent candidate Monique Ryan.

“We’ve certainly noticed their presence and, given the negative reaction from some Kooyong residents, they’re certainly earning their money,” Dr Ryan’s spokesman said.

Mr Frydenberg has conceded he is in a “battle royal” against Dr Ryan, who has the backing of Simon Holmes a Court’s Climate 200 group.

A YouGov poll, commissioned by The Australian, shows Mr Frydenberg trailing Dr Ryan by 53 to 47 per cent on two-party-preferred basis and would lose his seat if an election were held today.

Mr Frydenberg’s camp is more optimistic, as internal Liberal polling indicates his personal popularity could overcome the unpopularity of Prime Minister Scott Morrison and tighten the competition to 51-49.

“I’m upbeat. I’m encouraged and positive,” Mr Frydenberg told the ABC on Thursday.

“The election will be tight. I don’t necessarily agree with the conclusions of these polls, which you should not treat as ­gospel because I do not treat it as gospel.”

Liberal sources said Mr Frydenberg had expressed private frustration at Mr Morrison’s ­decision to hold the party’s official campaign launch in Brisbane this Sunday, instead of Melbourne, as it means he will lose precious hours on the hustings.

ACTU assistant secretary Liam O’Brien said Mr Frydenberg’s use of human billboards was a sign that the Liberal Party was out of touch. “If Josh Frydenberg thinks it’s OK to treat workers like billboards, that tells you everything you need to know about Scott Morrison and his rotten government,” he said.

“It’s no wonder Mr Morrison is sitting on his hands while the cost of living goes through the roof and workers’ wages go backwards.

“Scott Morrison either doesn’t get it or he just doesn’t care.”