Underhanded campaign tactics continue in ACT election

The use of dirty tricks in the ACT's election may pale in comparison to campaigns elsewhere, but the city has not been without its fair share of underhanded tactics this year.

The explosion in the number of roadside corflutes this year has brought with it a steady stream of complaints of stealing and vandalism.

The Greens filmed one incident, in which they say a man was found with Brindabella candidate Michael Mazengarb's signs in the back of his vehicle.

Mr Mazengarb confronted the man.

Reports of vandalism have also been frequent, including early on in the campaign, when a "Can the Tram" graffiti stencil appeared to have been used to deface Labor candidate Karl Maftoum's signs.

A female Liberal candidate in Brindabella also had a vulgar profanity spraypainted on a corflute picturing her face.

Both parties accuse each other of attacking corflutes with Stanley knives, or kicking or pushing them over.

Labor's ACT branch secretary Matthew Byrne described the tactic as "childish"

"The Libs are wasting a lot of time doing this, it's just childish," he said.

"It's not underhanded, it's just schoolyard stuff."

But Liberal campaign director Daniel Clode made the same charge against his opponents.

"For the first few weeks they were just trying to push them over and out of the ground," he said.

"We've got a lot of volunteers out there and they've been active in restoring signs… so they've resorted to slashing signs."

The tactics are not confined to the streets.

There are also allegations of skulduggery online.

The Liberals have repeatedly been accused of blocking dissenting opinion or commentary from their Facebook page.

A tongue-in-cheek Facebook group for those banned by the Liberals sprung up in August, describing itself as a "dedicated peer support and counselling safe space for those banned from the Canberra Liberals Facebook page for telling the truth".

Mr Clode said the Liberals' Facebook page was being trolled, and the party had decided to take action.

"Right at the start of the campaign, we had a lot of Labor and union people engaging in trolling behaviour," he said.

"We have better things to do than waste people's time with that... so, if we see that then people are blocked."

But Facebook users have complained of being banned for innocuous comments made as part of a genuine policy debate.

The "Banned by the Canberra Liberals" group had 87 members by Thursday.

A complaint was also made about road workers holding pro-light rail signs and slowing down traffic on Melrose Drive this week.

In an attempt to catch candidates out, photographers have secretly taken photos of candidates handing out government flyers.

The photographers appear to have taken the photos from hiding spots, before leaking them and reporting the candidates for using taxpayer-funded brochures while campaigning.

The complaints were dismissed this week.