Battle for Lilley gets ugly over federal police probe
Opponents of an LNP candidate for a key Brisbane seat have wasted no time in taking political advantage of a potential police investigation sparked by doubts over his claims to live in the electorate.
A sign outside a pre-polling place in the electorate of Lilley on Brisbane's northside.
On the first day of pre-poll voting for the 21 May election, signs went up outside polling booths in Lilley referring to the police investigation into the seat’s LNP candidate, Vivian Lobo.
The AFP is investigating Lobo over suspicions he has not been living at his registered address.
The Australian Electoral Commission said there was a concern as to whether the information provided by Mr Lobo regarding his residential address on these forms is false.
Lobo said he will cooperate with the investigation.
As well, Liberal candidate for the Victorian seat of Isaacs Robbie Beaton was referred to the AFP on Thursday after he told a newspaper he did not live at the Melbourne property where he was enrolled.
A special federal police team has so far received 47 complaints relating to the election campaign, with 23 investigations launched.
Operation Wilmot was launched at the start of the election campaign involving a team of AFP officers and specialists.
So far, one charge has been laid, relating to a man who allegedly threatened to assault an officer in Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce’s security detail.
