Liberal hopeful Scott Yung considers running against Chris Minns

He almost ousted Labor leader Chris Minns in 2019— now, Scott Yung is considering another at the seat of Kogarah at the state election. But it’s on one condition.

The Liberal who came close to unseating Kogarah MP Chris Minns in 2019 has declared he can “knock out” the Labor Leader at the election if he is given the opportunity to run.

Chinese-Australian Scott Yung eroded Mr Minns’ primary vote lead to just 69 votes last election, before the Labor Leader won on preferences with a margin of 1.8 per cent.

But boundary changes have now put Kogarah on a knife edge, reducing the margin to just 0.1 per cent.

Mr Yung said he has been courted by the Liberal party to run again.

“The party has contacted me about my interest in Kogarah,” he said.

Scott Yung has declared he can knock out the Labor Leader at the election if he is given the opportunity to run. Picture: Jeremy Piper

“At the moment I am engaged with my business, but I think that if given the right opportunity I can knock out Chris Minns.”

The Daily Telegraph understands Mr Yung wants the party to arrange a fallback option if he loses the seat.

Mr Yung took on Mr Minns in 2019

where the Labor leader won by 1.8 per cent.

“I will go back to my business (if I lose) but it’s a big compromise to step away from my business unless the Liberal party can in one shape or form give me some kind of a safety net,” Mr Yung said.

He declined to say what that “safety net” could be.

“It’s up to the party to work out if they think I am worth it.”

The Liberal Party is yet to preselect a candidate in Kogarah, which is Labor’s most marginal seat. Mr Minns’ wafer-thin margin means that he will need to spend time in his electorate ahead of the March 25 poll, which could limit his ability to lead Labor’s statewide campaign.

Mr Yung’s comments come as the Liberal Party looks to fill a casual senate vacancy caused by the death of Jim Molan last week.

However, a Liberal source said that there would be “no safety net” that could be offered to Mr Yung.

“It’s just not going to happen.”

The source said Mr Yung had left his run far too late.

“It’s 0.1 per cent but that doesn’t take into account the huge profile Minns has as the leader of the Opposition. He didn’t have that in 2019,” the source said.

“Scott could do it but he would have had to have started a year ago.”