Signage under fire
The saturation of political signage across Albany in the lead-up to last Saturday’s election and on polling day has come under fire from voters.
It comes after Liberal candidate Trevor Cosh was criticised on Tuesday by Labor opponent Peter Watson for an “American- style” campaign.
Both Nationals candidate Robert Sutton and returned member for the seat of Albany Mr Watson have called for all forms of political advertising to be banned on election day — and it seems from the big response to the issue on the Albany Advertiser’s Facebook page, many voters would agree.
Michelle Irving posted on our page that the amount of signage was “visual pollution”, while Jill Larsen said it was “absurd overkill”.
Jodi McFarlane said an “incredible amount” of paper had been wasted, while Trish Khoo said she returned to sender all the political mail she received.
Mr Watson and Mr Sutton don’t disagree with our Facebook followers, believing voters should not be bombarded with how-to-vote cards and political signage as they walk into polling places.
Both men believe political material on election day should be restricted, with Mr Sutton saying at least 20 people were handing out material at the Mt Lockyer Primary polling station alone on Saturday.
“We were having people coming up bloody grumpy, and understandably so,” Mr Sutton said.
“Don’t hassle people, just let them go and make their decision without the hassle.”
Mr Watson said political parties could save money and voters could enjoy election day without being saturated with advertising.
“I’d be quite happy if people went to a polling booth without having to run the gauntlet,” he said.
Both men called for more controls to be placed on political signage and letterbox advertising in the weeks and months leading up to elections.
WA Electoral Commission communications manager Justin Harbord said questions had been raised about the amount of signage in Albany, and a minor controversy had arisen after some signs were erected too early.
He said the WAEC would review the issue, but believed a blanket ban was not necessary.
Mr Cosh said he would welcome clearer guidelines from the WAEC on advertising and, as far as he knew, he had not broken any rules and most of his signage had been taken down the day after the election.
