Photo shoots and funding announcements for sport and schools should have meant a smooth day on the election campaign trail for Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.
Visiting Penrith Christian School in the western Sydney Labor seat of Lindsay on Thursday, Mr Abbott talked about the "great" 700-student facility as he unveiled the coalition's schools policy.
But as he promised a coalition government would deliver $120 million more than Labor over the next four years, there was a distraction.
The Penrith school's online religious charter revealed a stance of which Liberal organisers say they were unaware.
"We believe that homosexuality and specific acts of homosexuality are an abomination unto God, a perversion of the natural order," the school's website reads.
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When questioned about it, Mr Abbott was quick to disassociate himself.
"Obviously I don't agree with that statement," he told reporters, adding that both Liberal and Labor representatives have visited the school in recent times.
But the situation created an awkward atmosphere in the school auditorium where a handful of teachers and students had remained to hear Mr Abbott's press conference.
Earlier in the day Mr Abbott was joined by wife Margie at Sydney Olympic Park to pledge $6 million to boost netball facilities and aid preparations for the 2015 Netball World Cup to be hosted by Sydney.
Mingling with young netball players, Mr Abbott scrummed down for a few on court happy snaps.
He was also presented with a bright yellow female "body suit" netball outfit, prompting an eye-popping reaction from the Abbott duo.
Mrs Abbott stepped in to save the day, graciously accepting the gift.
Mr Abbott was also reluctant to accept news that online betting agency sportsbet.com.au has paid out $1.5 million in wagers backing the coalition to win the September 7 poll, deeming team Abbott a certainty.
"More fool them ... there is no such thing as an un-losable election," Mr Abbott said of the bookie, casting his mind back to the federal election of 1993 when the opposition flopped after being hot favourites throughout the campaign.
The Liberal team is due to begin Friday's campaigning in Melbourne.
