Rule-bending by our pollies is never well received, even less so during the critical final weeks before a federal election, so the claws are out as both Labor and Liberal candidates Dr Mike Kelly and Dr Peter Hendy are scrutinised for what’s regarded as two acts of naughtiness.
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President of the Merimbula-Eden branch of the Liberal Party Jon Gaul is up in arms about the incidence of campaign posters belonging to the office of Dr Mike Kelly appearing on electricity poles across the region, and believes they infer “collusion” by Essential Energy.
“These signs by Mike Kelly are in breach of the NSW Electricity Supply Act and the NSW Graffitti Act,” Mr Gaul said on June 20.
With the help of Bega State Electorate Conference president Raija Havu, Mr Gaul has compiled a list of where Dr Kelly’s posters have been seen on the poles – as far afield as Narooma and Cobargo – and protested directly to Essential Energy’s manager of corporate affairs’ Roger Marshall.
If there are rules that we in the Liberals follow then those who flout them should suffer consequences, both in financial terms but also in public shaming.
- Alan Burdon, Liberal Party of NSW Narooma branch president
Mr Marshall assured Mr Gaul on June 6 that Dr Kelly’s office had been requested to remove the posters, and said a caution was sent to all major political parties.
Dr Mike Kelly said there had been some confusion because the poles were “traditionally places to put (posters) in the past” but his office was happy to receive information and take them down.
“Our office hasn’t put them up but we have volunteers and supporters, so we don’t necessarily know where they are going to end up,” Dr Kelly said on June 21.
Meanwhile the Liberal Party is also getting a wrist-slap, for illegal parking.
On Friday July 17, Eden resident Gary Harkness documented a campaign car with Dr Hendy placards parked for four hours in a one hour parking zone in front of Eden’s Hotel Australasia.
“The individual concerned (the driver) has spoken to the police and there are no ongoing issues,” Dr Hendy said on June 20.
“We tell all our campaign workers the importance of abiding by all rules.”