Health Minister and Northcote MP Jonathan Coleman has become embroiled in the controversy around a primary school fundraising event where fake cocaine was used as a prop.
Images emerged online showing parents with trays of fake cocaine at the Northcote Primary School fundraiser, a Las Vegas-themed ball on Saturday night.
Mr Coleman attended the event, but says he was unaware of the fake cocaine. He said he was not concerned about it being used as a prop at the event, saying the issue was a "massive beat-up" and said the function was "good, clean fun".
"To be honest, I didn't even realise this prop was there. I didn't see it on the night," he told Newshub.
"The big story here is that a whole bunch of parents got together and raised $30,000 for the school."
The Health Minister, whose children attend the school, says he did not play with the fake drug.
School Board chair Andrew Fox says it was a regrettable decision.
"One of the decorations was some icing sugar, poorly chosen and in hindsight we realise it was inappropriate," he told Newshub.
"We certainly didn't anticipate that it would cause offence, and if we were to do it again, it would be removed.
"It was a decoration, and as I think you have seen, a couple of parents who weren't at the ball but did see photos on Facebook approached us and they were unhappy about that. Subsequently we have apologised to them.
"They approached us as a school via email and we responded via email, and they are always able to talk to us about this further if they choose. They appear to have appreciated our honest regret."
On Facebook, the ball was described as a "great event with loads of money raised to support the school".
Newshub.
