Louise Elliot accused of exploiting council election loophole

Mayor candidate Louise Elliot has been accused of exploiting an election loophole to plaster giant billboards of her face all around Hobart. HOW MUCH IT COSTS >>>

Mayoral candidate Louise Elliot has been accused of exploiting an election loophole to plaster giant billboards of her face around Hobart.

The accusations were made by Hobart City Council alderman Mike Dutta, who said the billboards were at the very minimum a violation of the spirit of the rules.

The Electoral Commission rules state that candidates cannot spend more than $18,000 on political advertising in the window of time leading up to election day.

The advertising costs count from 30 days before the Notice of Election is issued.

However, Ms Elliot began advertising months in advance which, Mr Dutta said, seemed designed to get around the upper spending cap.

He said each billboard would cost nearly $1500 a month, meaning three billboards would cost more than $12,000 if they were up for three months.

Mr Dutta said expensive electioneering tactics such as this were only possible for the rich or those with wealthy friends.

“These very early billboards seem to be designed to get around the Electoral Commission’s expenditure cap by a candidate who seems to have significant resources to spend,” he said.

Ms Elliot said she’d broken no rules and was paying for the advertising out of her own pocket.

“I focus on the rules, and I haven’t broken any rules. Yes, I’m going to campaign hard because I feel so strongly about this city,” Ms Elliot said.

“Since my cancer experience I’ve been looking for the thing to dedicate myself to and throw all my effort behind, and this is it. I’m going to give it my all.”

She said she’d worked hard and saved for two years to fund this campaign, and that Mr Dutta’s comments were offensive to hard working people.

Ms Elliot said councillors should be focusing on the “real issues” like the housing supply shortage which, she said, Mr Dutta was partly responsible for.

Ms Elliot said Mr Dutta was one of the “prime housing rejectors” on council who had a track record of voting down housing development applications.

So far three giant Louise Elliot billboards have been put up, one near 40 Victoria St, one near 176 Campbell St, and one near 259 Liverpool St. The one in Victoria St has been taken down.

Ms Elliot is supported by council’s right faction including Jeff Briscoe, Simon Behrakis and Marti Zucco.

Mr Dutta is supported by council’s left faction including Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds, Helen Burnet and Bill Harvey.