Perth Voice Interactive

BAYSWATER city council has abandoned its move to prohibit political advertising on street benches.

At a closed doors meeting and after hearing legal advice, the council voted not to pursue Streetside Advertising, which has contracts with local MPs.

In December the council voted to ban all political ads on street benches, bus shelters and other community infrastructure outside election periods (Voice, December 1, 2012).

Ultimately the ban was not enforced for the March 9 election. In January, the Liberals won an injunction against Armadale council which had demanded the removal of unauthorised political signs from private property in the lead-up to the state election.

That decision cast doubt over the legality of moves by several councils to ban political ads; even those on public infrastructure via third party advertisers.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK