Liberal all the way

LYNDHURST by-election candidate David Linaker-Liberal won’t be able to list his full surname on the 27 April ballot paper.
He added ‘Liberal’ to his surname by deed poll to reflect his 20-plus year Liberal Party membership, identify him with his beliefs, and confirm his public commitment to advancing liberalism as a way of life.
But the Hampton Park man encountered claims that his name could be misleading when he tried to register as a Niddrie by-election candidate with the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) last year.
The VEC said voters could confuse him for an endorsed Liberal Party candidate.
He challenged the claim, but the Victorian Civil and Adminsitrative Tribunal (VCAT) agreed in a decision on 14 March.
“VCAT thought that you might think I was an endorsed Liberal, as opposed to a nominated independent Liberal,” Mr Linaker-Liberal said.
VCAT senior member Ian Proctor said in his judgement that enrolling Mr Linaker-Liberal under the full surname was contrary to the public interest.
“This is because it is that name on the electoral roll which will be reflected in campaign material, most notably how to vote forms and on the ballot paper, should a person run for office,” he said.
Mr Proctor said this could confuse voters.
Mr Linaker-Liberal argued that it restricted his right of freedom of expression, but Mr Proctor did not agree.
See page 4 for more on the Lyndhurst by-election candidates.