Liberal MP Tim Wilson is kicking up a stink about his electoral opponent’s campaign signs. 

Independent challenger for Mr Wilson’s seat of Goldstein, Zoe Daniel, says her campaign has been cleared by Bayside City Council of prematurely erecting political signs. 

However, Mr Wilson insists she jumped the gun. 

He has asked his local supporters to dob in people displaying Zoe Daniel material. 

The council issued a statement this week saying “we are within the [three-month] period in which an election must be held” so it would allow the signs.

The Wilson campaign promptly complained that the council had incorrectly calculated the timing of the election, leading to the council taking down its statement. 

“It is unlawful to erect signs until after the election has been called,” Mr Wilson wrote to his Goldstein constituents. 

“They don’t care if they break the law,” he said.

“I feel sorry for those households about to be fined nearly $1,000 each … because their candidate is knowingly encouraging them to break the law.”

Ms Daniel is an independent candidate backed by fundraising vehicle Climate 200, who is running for parliament on a platform of integrity, greater action on climate change and better treatment of women.

She admits that she voted for Mr Wilson “as a vote for Malcolm Turnbull in 2016”, but voted “against him and Scott Morrison in 2019”.

“I am a classic swinging voter,” she told reporters.

“The unsatisfactory nature of these choices was one of the key reasons I accepted an invitation from Voices for Goldstein to run as an independent.

“The Liberal party exhorting people to dob in members of the Goldstein community who are displaying my signs amounts to bullying and intimidation.”

Mr Wilson holds the blue-ribbon seat of Goldstein on an 8 per cent margin, but analysts suggest he is under significant threat from the independent challenge.