Council move against anti-Angus Taylor signs goes against third-party rights, legal experts say

The community movement trying to unseat Hume MP Angus Taylor has been ordered to remove election signage by local government in a move legal experts say goes against the rights of third-party campaigners.

Goulburn Mulwaree Council instructed the Vote Angus Out group to remove their signage after the office of the Liberal incumbent made a complaint.

A council spokesperson told Guardian Australia they were enforcing the requirements of the State Environmental Planning Policy.

Twomey said the court had rejected the proposition that parties and candidates hold a constitutionally privileged position over third-party campaigners in electoral campaigns.

According to Twomey and Meagher, the council decision could still be valid if a court decided there was a legitimate purpose for the relevant law drawing the distinction between candidates and third-party campaigners, and the law was proportionate to achieving that purpose.

Penny Ackery, the independent candidate for Hume, said that she had no knowledge of any push by Vote Angus Out or any other group to deface signs.