TWO Labor-supported candidates for the Hobsons Bay Council election have come under attack for allegedly placing campaign material on government or council land.
A well-placed source has told the Weekly that ALP running mates for Strand ward Paul Morgan and Bill Tehan had election material on VicTrack property and road pylons, respectively.
“There are certain rules that apply in elections and when people step outside of those rules it says something about their character,” the source said.
Mr Tehan said some people “did nothing but look for ways to discredit those like myself who are running an honest campaign”.
He said he was unaware of illegally placed material.
“For a start, I wasn’t aware of it given I did not put all of them up.
“If there has been a breach then I will arrange for them to be moved.”
However, Mr Morgan hit back, saying his material had been covered by garbage bags and vandalised in premeditated attacks.
“If we are entering to a discussion about character, I feel the following should be taken into consideration: during the day on Friday, individuals were driving around Williamstown putting garbage bags over my signs, pushing over signs on sticks and cutting cable ties to turn signs the wrong way around,” he said.
“Obviously, [it was] a premeditated attack as they came prepared with garbage bags and scissors to cut the cable ties.”
Mr Morgan said his campaign material opposite Sadliers was not on VicTrack state government land.
“My signs on Melbourne Road, opposite Sadliers, are located on private property, which is separate to the UGL rail facility.
“My signs are located on private property and permission was sought from the tenant beforehand.”
He said seven of his signs had been stolen.
Mr Morgan said the council had asked him to remove one sign which had “inadvertently” been placed on council land by volunteers.
He said another sign was removed pursuant to a complaint under the “one sign per property rule”.
