Parents anger as school ‘glad-wrapped’ in election posters
PARENTS at an eastern suburbs school say they were “disgusted” when Liberal Party volunteers “glad-wrapped” the perimeter of the building in plastic sheeting promoting Wentworth candidate Dave Sharma.
NSW
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PARENTS at an eastern suburbs school say they were “disgusted” when Liberal Party volunteers “glad-wrapped” the perimeter of the building in plastic sheeting promoting Wentworth candidate Dave Sharma.
It’s understood the blue and purple sheeting, spanning the entire length of the fence out the front of Double Bay Public School, was put up by Liberal Party volunteers before the bell had sounded signalling the end of the school day.
One roll of sheeting encourages voters to support Mr Sharma while the other attacks federal Labor leader Bill Shorten and Independent frontrunner Kerryn Phelps.
“With a one-seat majority … don’t risk it,” the message reads in bold type next to their head-shots.
Double Bay mum-of-four Colette Potter, 49, said she watched Liberal volunteers arrive at the school just before 3pm and begin wrapping it with the material.
“I think it’s disgraceful,” she said.
“The school wasn’t even closed and the kids were streaming out and there they were putting up their propaganda.
“All of the parents were appalled and everyone is disillusioned by the whole fiasco.
“He’s (Sharma) really searching now — the feeling among most people is he’s done himself a real disservice by doing this.”
One Double Bay mum, who asked not to be identified, said parents were “irate” about the incident, adding that it’s “not fair” to other candidates.
“According to the Young Liberal man out there, he said that in his opinion it was first in best dressed,” he said.
“It’s this attitude of we can do what we like because we got here first — I think that’s disgraceful.
“The fellow from electoral commission has come out and spoken to us and apparently they are supposed to wait until the school is vacant — the school is not vacant because there are after-school activities happening.”
The Australian Electoral Commission has been contacted for comment.
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Kerryn Phelps / Dave Sharma / Tim Murray / Dominic WY Kanak / Angela Vithoulkas / Tony Robinson / Steve Georgantis / Shayne Higson / Ben Forsyth / Barry Keldoulis / Andrea Leong / Deb Boyle / Robert Callanan / Sam Gunning / Licia Heath / Kay Dunne