A small group of protesters, some of whom work for Victorian Labor, ambushed a press conference by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in Bennelong today.
The protesters, who jumped out of a hired van with Victorian number plates, refused to say whether they were members of the Labor Party when asked by the ABC.
Instead, they said they were "concerned students" and that the protest over education funding was self-organised.
The protesters said they had not been sent by Kristina Keneally's campaign and fled the scene, seemingly unwilling to answer questions from reporters.
But the ABC understands the driver of the rented van was Tim Griffin, who was pictured alongside Opposition Leader Bill Shorten in September last year.
Another protester, Maddie Bradford, has listed employment with Victorian Labor MP Natalie Suleyman since June 2016.
A third protester, Bella Manson, describes herself online as a "Labor hack" who works for trade union United Voice.
The protest on the eve of the crucial Bennelong by-election adds to growing claims of dirty campaign tactics by both sides of politics.
The protesters held up signs, many of which were upside down, saying: "Stop Liberal cuts to schools."
"He only protects the rich — Mr Harbourside mansion," one person yelled at the Prime Minister.
Mr Turnbull and Liberal Bennelong candidate John Alexander did not appear to be rattled by the protesters.
"Stop telling lies young man," Mr Alexander told one protester.
It is not clear whether the protest was authorised by the Labor Party.
