Contractors ‘chasing their tales’

The City of Sydney has selectively allowed election campaign posters to be hung on telegraph poles despite rules that do not allow it.

According to the City’s policy, election campaign posters are to be removed within 24 hours unless it is 14 days out from an election.

But Council contractors removed Sydney Greens candidate De Brierley Newton’s posters within 24 hours despite MP Verity Firth’s posters being up since Christmas.

“The City of Sydney has told me they have, and I quote, ‘a cleansing team that takes down any material on hot spots ’, that is, any main streets in the City, within 24 hours,” she said.

“[But] Verity Firth has had her election posters up for two months and Adrian Bartels is all down Harris Street.”

A City of Sydney spokesperson said posters are only permitted for the state election from March 12.

“All candidates have been informed of the City’s policy and were told to remove any posters displayed before March 12,” the spokesperson said.

“In recent weeks, the City has removed 229 election posters.

“Posters were removed by the City’s graffiti removal contractors during their regular patrols of the city.”

But it was only after Ms Newton and City of Sydney Greens Councillor Chris Harris complained to Council did MP Verity Firth’s posters down Glebe Point Road get removed.

“I was told they (workers) were chasing their tales for two months,” Ms Newton said.

“I don’t know how they can say that when they were so rigorous in taking down ours within 24 hours.”

Cr Harris said the City’s attempt to pull down some posters was an “inconsistent application of the rules”.

“Rules have been blatantly ignored by a Member of Parliament. She (Ms Firth) should be following the law, not breaking the law, she knows the policy, she was a Councillor when the policy was adopted.”

Cr Harris said the City should not bother enforcing a policy if they do not adhere to the rules that guide it.

And despite complaints made to Council about Ms Firth’s posters, it took workers reportedly one and a half weeks to take down her posters.

Last Saturday marked the official day election campaign posters can be hung, but they must be taken down by April 2.

“Posters must (also) be in support of a registered candidate or a political party,” a City of Sydney spokesperson said.

Council did not respond to questions surrounding their selective ripping down of posters.

The state election is next Saturday March 26.

by Sophie Cousins