If you drive around Melbourne you might see similar branding across LGAs − but is it a sign of official endorsements?
A number of Liberal Party members across Melbourne have been provided with a Canva template for next month's local government elections in Victoria, although the party officially remains hesitant to endorse candidates for (almost) all councils.
6 News has observed at least three candidates − Felicity Sinfield (Boroondara, Cotham Ward), Christian Martinu (Moonee Valley, Buckley Ward) and Marcus Fernandez (Monash, Jells Ward) − using near-identical branding for election corflutes and social media posts.
Sinfield is the deputy mayor of Boroondara and has served on council since 2012, while Martinu was a Liberal candidate at the 2018 Victorian state election and Fernandez was a candidate for Monash in 2020.
All are current members of the Liberal Party and open about that fact, although none of them have official party endorsement. The Liberals are only endorsing candidates for Melbourne City Council this year (a first for the party) and in previous years it's been local branches, like the Burwood Liberals who endorsed for Boroondara, Monash and Whitehorse at the 2020 local elections.
Various pieces of branding posted by Sinfield, Martinu and Fernandez in the lead-up to the elections are all using the same template, including colours, slogans, fonts and backgrounds.
But is this an official Liberal Party endorsement?
The short answer is no − they are all Independent Liberals.
In a statement to 6 News, Felicity Sinfield said: "The Canva template was shared with me by a friend - presumably from the Party but I can’t confirm."
"I did not receive it from the party - I was too time poor to come up with anything else & thought it was pretty good! So I've used them!"
She added that she doesn't know "either of the people you mentioned", referring to Martinu and Fernandez.
"I'm not endorsed. I am entirely self funded. I have not received any support from the party. I have been encouraged to stand for re-election - but that is ultimately my choice as an individual with my family."
Sinfield isn't alone in being a Liberal member on Boroondara City Council, although she is one of several contesting without party endorsement. Solway Ward candidate Zachary Townend is another Independent Liberal who has previously spoken to 6 News.
Christian Martinu told 6 News: "Our community deserves an advocate who prioritises all residents and businesses across Moonee Valley. As a candidate for Buckley Ward, I am focused on being a strong voice at Council, ensuring that all residents are heard."
"Regarding your inquiry, I have publicly and proudly stated my Liberal Party membership on both the VEC website and across various social media. Although I have not received any financial support from the Victorian Liberal Party, I have been provided with unbranded templates to assist in my communication efforts."
He later clarified that "I have been provided with unbranded templates to assist in my communication efforts by the Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division)".
"I am committed to restoring trust and integrity to the Moonee Valley City Council, putting an end to the corruption scandals that have plagued the current Council under the watch of the Mayor and his Deputy," Martinu added.
Marcus Fernandez said that "I have been quite open about being a party member in both 2020 and 2024, however not many other candidates disclosed their party ties. Even when employed by the Labor Party as a staffer".
"I am of course a Liberal, and the party has provided some templates and basic local government information sessions. But I am not endorsed. I have not received any funding or any other help from the party directly. I would also point out we have nothing to bind us to how we preference or how we vote at council, if elected."
He publicly describes himself as "the non-Labor candidate" and even included a mockup Liberal logo next to his name on his how-to-vote card, while also noting the Labor affiliations of fellow Jells Ward candidates Dustin Kim, Christine Wilson and Elisha Lee (who are all Independent Labor candidates as the Labor Party is not endorsing for Monash City Council). Rajesh Pasupuleti is also given a Labor logo, although he is an independent without any known party affiliation.
New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia all have mandatory party membership disclosures which are publicly accessible online at local elections. However, candidates in Victoria are only asked "Are you endorsed by a registered political party?".
As Martinu points out, he's made his Liberal Party membership known on the Victorian Electoral Commission website, although he is not forced to do that as a non-endorsed candidates and dozens of candidates statewide don't disclose membership if they don't have to.
Liberal-linked candidates sharing branding isn't unique to this election. In 2020, a number of candidates running in Greater Dandenong all used "blue-and-yellow" branding, as the Star Journal reported at the time, with a number of them confirmed as Liberal members.
But the party itself has been shy to endorse in Victoria. Last year, a motion for the party to endorse local government candidates at the 2024 elections was passed by members, yet they've only ended up contesting Melbourne City Council.
The Liberals do widely endorse in New South Wales, while the Liberal Nationals in Queensland only contest Brisbane City Council.
Meanwhile, Labor, the Greens, Animal Justice Party, Socialist Alliance, Libertarian Party and Fusion Party have all made various endorsements for the 2024 elections across Victoria.