The City of Mandurah has said a billboard featuring a mural of Canning MP Andrew Hastie sporting a handlebar moustache and a mullet has to go after it was revealed the owner didn’t seek council approval.
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
The sign received national attention after Mr Hastie commissioned artist David Garland to cover over vandalism with the moustache and mullet mural.
Mr Garland also added the tag: “That’s how it’s done, mate”.
But the City of Mandurah notified the landowner it has to go.
Mr Hastie said council approvals were an issue between the owner of the land and the City of Mandurah.
“The advertising has been up for weeks and no one has approached me about it,” he said.
Although the sign sits on private land, City of Mandurah policy requires approval for advertising or public interest signs.
A spokesperson from the City of Mandurah confirmed the landowner had been notified to remove the advertising sign, although it is not clear how long Mr Hastie has to remove it.
Earlier in the federal election campaign, another of Mr Hastie’s signs rose to national prominence when the Australian Defence Force ordered him to take it down for including an image of him in uniform.
Mr Hastie was subsequently removed from the stand-by army reserve when he refused.
Mr Hastie took the original tagging of his campaign material in good humour.
“Will Mandurah's Van Gogh please come forward,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
He suggested that the would-be artist needed to get some tips from a professional and suggested Emma Blyth, a well known Mandurah artist with a studio and gallery in the Smart Street Mall.
The Liberal party has been contacted for comment.