QUESTIONS have surfaced over the authenticity of a fourth Monash election candidate after it was discovered he hasn’t lived in the city for most of this year.
Oakleigh ward candidate Benjamin Djung says he’s a resident of Chadstone and that he’ll be committing to a full-term on council if elected.
But an investigation by the Weekly has found Mr Djung is currently a student at the Australian National University in Canberra where he’s in his first year of a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in political science.
Mr Djung started the degree this year and is expected to finish in 2015.
In his Weekly election questionnaire, Mr Djung refused to answer whether he was a member of a political party or any political organisation.
But on LinkedIn — a social media website for professionals — Mr Djung proudly lists himself as a supporter of the Liberal Party, as a member of the ANU Liberal Club and a member of the Liberal Party since November 2010. He also lists his location as Canberra, Australia.
The page also reveals that the 19 year old has worked as an intern with Queensland Liberal National Party senator Sue Boyce since May.
On social media website Facebook, Mr Djung is friends with Theo Zographos, the Liberal Party candidate for Oakleigh and the electorate officer of Liberal MP Graham Watt.
The two men have been been connected on Facebook since November 2010 and share 21 mutual friends including deputy opposition leader Julie Bishop, Mr Watt, former Liberal Party member Matthew Hammon and Tony Smith, the former parliamentary secretary for John Howard and the current federal member for Casey.
Mr Djung’s second preference flows to Mr Zographos. His next four preferences flow to Christian Farinaccio, John Scannell, Tony Nalbant and Catherine Jane Ettery — all of whom also preference Mr Zographos second.
The Weekly has contacted Mr Djung with questions about his residence and political affiliations.