National

Court orders removal of Higgins signs

By AAP Newswire

May 21, 2022

Voters at a polling booth in the seat of Higgins in Victoria — The Federal Court has ruled that anti-Labor placards in the seat of Higgins must be taken down. -AAP Image

The Federal Court has ordered the removal of campaign signs that Labor alleges were put up by Liberal campaigners in the seat of Higgins.

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The bright green signs read "For our future put Labor last," and Labor claims they are a bid to confuse voters and conflate the party with the Australian Greens.

The signs have been put up in the seat of Higgins, where Liberal MP Katie Allen is facing a tight contest to retain her seat, and they have also been spotted in McEwen and Hawke.

The signs were apparently authorised by Hendrik Fourey, of the Business Owners and Contractors Union, but Labor says they were erected by Liberal supporters.

The Labor Party applied for an injunction on the signs at a last-minute court hearing in Melbourne on Saturday.

Justice Mark Moshinsky ordered them to be taken down, but said this had to be done by solicitors and Australian Electoral Commission officials.

Justice Moshinsky was also concerned disputes could arise if people were seen removing campaign material, and he said he hoped a solicitor could explain the situation.

He noted that there could be difficulties communicating the order to polling booths in time, with the hearing taking pace at 12 noon and polling booths closing at 6pm.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press