A federal politician's move to distribute personalised times-tables charts to school children ahead of next month's election has been labelled a "pub test" failure by political rivals and condemned by commentators.
The photograph, name and electorate office details of Nationals Party Member for the central NSW electorate of Calare, Andrew Gee, appear to be printed on two posters.
The NSW Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party claimed an Orange Public School pupil received them during school hours this week.
Charles Sturt University political scientist Dominic O'Sullivan said the material was "quite wrong" and should be withdrawn from schools.
Professor O'Sullivan said the posters were targeting young children, aged five to seven.
"[Young children] don't have the critical thinking skills or the awareness of the world around them to really have a clue to know what it means to be supporting one person of the Parliament over another," he said.
Mr Gee was unavailable for an interview but said in a statement he approached schools earlier this year to offer them the educational materials, "including times tables, alphabet and numbers charts".
He said only schools that had requested the resources received them.
Mr Gee said he had been providing educational charts locally "for years" because he had received feedback from educators and parents saying there were "very helpful".
Professor O'Sullivan said Mr Gee could help students in other ways.
"He's in a very powerful position as a member of parliament to ensure schools are properly resourced; and to ensure curriculums are developed with the most advanced knowledge available.
The SFF Party's education spokesman Mark Banasiak said the charts amounted to political advertising.
"There are plenty of local members who will buy prizes for end-of-year awards or sponsor books for school libraries ... and that's great," he said.
Mr Gee's statement said the posters did not display any political branding, advertising or logos.
'Petty' criticism
However, the criticism was not universal.
Cudal resident Floyd Legge told ABC Central West the SFF's stance was "petty".
"[Mr Gee] sends out fridge calendars and community information, so this is no different.
"It's not vote-getting. It's [about] civic understanding of your local member."
A NSW Education spokesperson said "public schools in NSW are free from political affiliation and schools should not distribute party-branded materials".
The SFF planned to lodge a complaint to the Australian Electoral Commission.
