Liberal Party candidate in legal stoush with council over campaign signs at pre-poll booth

The Liberal Party appears prepared to take a stoush with a local council to court after a candidate was accused of displaying dozens of campaign signs at a pre-polling booth in a hotly contested Melbourne electorate without a permit.

Restrictions on the volume of corflute signs permitted outside the High Street polling booth in Kew were enforced by Boroondara Council after community complaints about the signs blocking pedestrian footpaths in previous elections.

The council said all Kooyong candidates were informed of the rules in writing prior to the election, as well as once the election was called.

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"Council's focus is ensuring public safety, clear pedestrian access, and amenity," a Boroondara Council spokesperson said.

"This year candidates were each issued a permit to display one A-frame sign outside the pre-polling location to achieve these aims."

Yesterday council officers patrolled the area to check all signs had a permit and each party only advertised one sign.

All candidates have abided by the rules expect for one, according to the council.

9News viewed dozens of Liberal Party campaign signs spruiking candidate Amelia Hamer at the early voting centre earlier today.

According to a legal letter sent by lawyers acting on behalf of the Victorian division of the Liberal Party of Australia, the party said it did not intend to comply with the restrictions that it called "unlawful".

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The Liberals threatened legal action if the council did not withdraw the permit requirements and restrictions by 3pm today.

But Boroondara council hit back, threatening fines of up to $500 for each sign displayed without a permit.

The council said it would "consider all applications for more advertising quickly and on their merits".

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