Former prime minister John Howard backs under pressure Bennelong candidate Scott Yung in Liberal’s must-win seat

Former prime minister John Howard has thrown his weight behind the Liberal candidate tasked with winning back a critical blue-ribbon seat.

Former prime minister John Howard has publicly backed beleaguered Liberal candidate Scott Yung in his race for the must-win Sydney electorate of Bennelong.

The north west Sydney seat is currently held by Labor’s Jerome Laxale, however following a change in boundaries it sits on a wafer-thin Liberal margin of 0.04 per cent.

The 85-year-old Liberal luminary, who was the MP for more than three decades from 1974 to 2007, called on his former constituents to vote for Mr Yung, stating that he had “known (Mr Yung) for a number of years,” and described the local small business owner as a hard worker.

“My favourite thing about Scott is that he’s a dedicated, hard working Australian,” Mr Howard said in the prerecorded video, which will be shared on social media from Wednesday.

“He believes in individual effort. He believes in sticking up and looking after your family, and he also believes very strongly the important role of small business.”

In a written statement to be delivered to prospective voters, Mr Howard said Anthony Albanese was “out of his depth,” and urged people to vote for Mr Yung.

“I know Scott Yung, the Liberal candidate for Bennelong. Like me, he knows Australia is the best country in the world,” he wrote.

“He is a local, has many community connections, and understands the needs of small business having run one himself. He has achieved much in his career. Scott is a hard worker who has the energy and commitment to effectively represent you in the national parliament.

“I hope that you will vote for him at the coming election.”

Scott Yung has been tasked with winning back the former blue-ribbon seat of Bennelong. Picture: Supplied

Mr Howard, who is considered to be a mentor to Peter Dutton, also warned against a minority government controlled by a powerful cross bench, urging that “there cannot be a government of teals or independents”.

“If you want a change of government, there is nothing to be gained by parking your vote in the middle,” he said.

“If you do so you run the risk of a minority Labor government dangerously dependent on the Greens, who are the true extremists of Australian politics.”

Mr Howard’s endorsements follow reports Mr Yung may have breached NSW Electoral Commission guidelines for not disclosing free campaign advertising dating back to his tilt for the state seat of Kogarah, currently held by NSW premier Chris Minns, in 2019.

The Liberal Party was also forced to defend Mr Yung’s decision to hand out Easter eggs at Lane Cove Public School, which resulted in complaints from parents.

Mr Howard also recently attended the Peter Dutton’s campaign launch on Sunday. Picture: Richard Dobson/ NewsWire

The school principal also lodged a complaint to the Department of Education.

A NSW Liberal Party spokesman said Mr Yung had offered the Easter eggs after seeking permission from the children’s parents.

One Liberal MP described Mr Howard’s backing as the “strongest possible endorsement you could get of Scott Yung’s character”.

“John Howard does not do these things lightly … Mr Howard has stamped his authority on Bennelong and Scott Yung as the future of the seat.”

Another Liberal MP batted away the recent string of bad publicity targeting Mr Yung.

“For any candidate, but particularly in the seat of Bennelong, to have John Howard’s endorse is significant and speaks to how Scott is seen by John and by the party,” they said.

“We understand come this time of the election cycle, when you’re looking strong and you’re campaigning as a strong local candidate, our opponents will throw mud at him but he’s got the party’s support to bring Bennelong back into Liberal hands.”

Winning back Bennelong is a must for the Coalition if it wants to seize 21 new seats to win majority government.

Since the electorate’s creation in 1972, it has only been held by Labor twice – former journalist Maxine McKew in 2007, and Mr Laxale, who won the seat in 2022.