Aussie Council Threatens To Refuse To Collect Bins With Political Messages On Them

The Hornsby Shire Council in Sydney has threatened not to pick up bins from households that feature political stickers.

Many wheelie bins in the area had anti-Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce stickers that read 'chuck them out' and another one showing the PM with the words 'bin him', referring to the federal election in May.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, neighbours complained about the political stickers, which led the council to issue letters to locals in Hornsby. The letters stated such signage was 'not appropriate', and their bins would not be collected if they continued to display stickers.

The letters stated that such stickers may 'risk council's collection contractor not servicing your bins as they cannot identify council's logo on the bin'.

A Hornsby Shire Council spokesperson also said: "The matter was brought to our attention through a complaint from a resident who was offended by the content of the signage.

"However, this rule would apply to signage of any type applied to council assets where a complaint is made," she said.

Asquith resident Peter Rickwood was one the locals to receive a letter from council. He defended the stickers by stating that other households have business and sporting teams stickers on their bins.

He told the Sydney Morning Herald: "It seems a bit odd that they're suddenly choosing to police this no-sticker policy when it happens to be political."

The council's mayor, a member of the Liberal Party, Philip Ruddock, suggested that locals instead put the stickers on their mailbox.

"Political advertising should not be undertaken except when there's an election on, and there's no election on yet," he said.

"We don't believe they should do it on council property," he said.

Earlier this morning (March 23), the Prime Minister appeared on Sunrise and addressed the 'bin situation'.

Mr Morrison said he would leave the matter in the hands of the council, to which Sunrise co-host David Koch responded: "but of course, the Mayor of Hornsby is your old mate Phillip Ruddock - the former coalition minister?"

"I'm sure he's more than capable of sorting the bins out, I'll let him take the bins out and I'll get on with the economy," Morrison said.

Looks like locals in the Hornsby Shire area will have to opt for some AFL or NRL stickers for now.

Topics: Australia News, Scott Morrison, Sydney