Complaint over Lib candidate Scott Yung handing chocolates to primary school kids

A Liberal candidate’s attempt to spread some Easter cheer at a primary school has backfired, with parents raising concerns with the principal, who lodged a formal complaint.

Liberal candidate Scott Yung has stunned concerned parents by handing out chocolate Easter eggs to primary school children, prompting the NSW Department of Education to slam his actions as “unacceptable”.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal Mr Yung was handing out chocolates to children outside the gates of Lane Cove Public School on Wednesday, while campaigning in the lower north shore seat of Bennelong.

The incident sparked “stranger danger” concerns among parents and an official complaint from the principal.

“They were handing out Easter eggs and campaigning material to children,” one parent told The Telegraph.

The parent, who did not wish to be named, said Mr Yung was giving children the chocolates “without (asking their) parents’ permission”.

Liberal candidate for Bennelong Scott Yung outside Lane Cove Public School. Picture: Supplied

“We’re always telling people not to take lollies from strangers,” she said, adding that Mr Yung was encouraging kids to do “exactly what we’re trying to train them not to do”.

The Department of Education confirmed the school’s principal had complained to Mr Yung and his campaign.

“It is unacceptable for any member of the public to hand out Easter eggs, lollies or any other consumable to children outside a school,” a department spokesman told The Telegraph.

Photos obtained by the Telegraph show Mr Yung standing metres outside Lane Cove Public School, with campaigning posters, and volunteers.

The Telegraph was told Mr Yung arrived before school pick-up time and was approaching parents and children on their way out of the gates.

Concerned parents complained about the candidate’s behaviour to school principal Terry McKinnon, leading him to raise concerns with Mr Yung’s office.

In a statement, a NSW Liberal spokesman said Mr Yung was talking “with local parents in a public space” about the Coalition’s election policies.

“While speaking to the parents he offered their kids Easter chocolate eggs, with parents’ permission, wishing them a happy Easter,” the spokesman said.

Mr Yung previously ran for Kogarah in the NSW parliament. Picture: Jeremy Piper

The incident follows Nine newspapers raising a number of questions about Mr Yung’s donations disclosures.

Mr Yung previously contested the seat of Kogarah in the NSW state election, running against Premier Chris Minns.

It comes after the Liberal Party was forced to dump its candidate for Whitlam over what Opposition Leader Peter Dutton labelled “deeply concerning” views.

Ben Britton was dumped after it was revealed he told a podcast he believed women should not serve in the military.

Mr Dutton on Thursday said Mr Britton was dumped for other reasons, some of which have not been made public.

“There are a number of views that Ben’s expressed that I don’t agree with and they were the grounds on which his candidacy were cancelled, some of them not in the public domain,” Mr Dutton told 2GB.

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Originally published as Complaint over Lib candidate Scott Yung handing chocolates to primary school kids