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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| 'He headbutted me': Tony Abbott says he was assaulted by yes campaigner | 'He headbutted me': Tony Abbott says he was assaulted by yes campaigner |
| (4 months later) | |
| Former prime minister says he was attacked on street in Hobart by a man who had asked to shake his hand, leaving Abbott with a swollen lip | |
| Gareth Hutchens | |
| Thu 21 Sep 2017 11.42 BST | |
| First published on Thu 21 Sep 2017 11.12 BST | |
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| The former Australian prime minister, Tony Abbott, has been assaulted in Hobart. | The former Australian prime minister, Tony Abbott, has been assaulted in Hobart. |
| He says he was headbutted by a yes campaigner as he was walking towards his hotel, leaving him with a slightly swollen lip. | He says he was headbutted by a yes campaigner as he was walking towards his hotel, leaving him with a slightly swollen lip. |
| He was in Tasmania on Thursday lunching with campaigners who are opposed to same-sex marriage, including his Liberal party colleague Eric Abetz. | He was in Tasmania on Thursday lunching with campaigners who are opposed to same-sex marriage, including his Liberal party colleague Eric Abetz. |
| Abbott told the story to Steve Price and Sky News host Andrew Bolt on Melbourne’s 3AW radio on Thursday. | Abbott told the story to Steve Price and Sky News host Andrew Bolt on Melbourne’s 3AW radio on Thursday. |
| “I was walking from the Mercury office across that docks area, that beautiful docks area in Hobart, towards my hotel,” Abbott said. | “I was walking from the Mercury office across that docks area, that beautiful docks area in Hobart, towards my hotel,” Abbott said. |
| “A fellow sung out at me ‘Hey Tony!’ I turned around, there was a chap wearing a Vote Yes badge. He says ‘I wanna shake your hand’. I went over to shake his hand and then he headbutted me. | “A fellow sung out at me ‘Hey Tony!’ I turned around, there was a chap wearing a Vote Yes badge. He says ‘I wanna shake your hand’. I went over to shake his hand and then he headbutted me. |
| “Now he wasn’t very good at it I’ve gotta say, but he did make contact. The only damage was a very, very slightly swollen lip. | “Now he wasn’t very good at it I’ve gotta say, but he did make contact. The only damage was a very, very slightly swollen lip. |
| “I was with a member of my staff [who] briefly grappled with this guy, and he then ran off swearing his head off basically. | “I was with a member of my staff [who] briefly grappled with this guy, and he then ran off swearing his head off basically. |
| “It was just a reminder of how ugly this debate is getting,” he said. | “It was just a reminder of how ugly this debate is getting,” he said. |
| His spokesman said the incident occurred while he was walking in the street and he sustained minor injuries. | His spokesman said the incident occurred while he was walking in the street and he sustained minor injuries. |
| “He didn’t have a blood nose or break his nose or anything like that,” the spokesman said, before refusing to elaborate on the incident or injuries. | “He didn’t have a blood nose or break his nose or anything like that,” the spokesman said, before refusing to elaborate on the incident or injuries. |
| Malcolm Turnbull called Abbott as soon as he heard about the incident and left a voicemail, according to a spokesman. | Malcolm Turnbull called Abbott as soon as he heard about the incident and left a voicemail, according to a spokesman. |
| He also called Andrew Colvin, the commissioner of the Australian Federal Police. | He also called Andrew Colvin, the commissioner of the Australian Federal Police. |
| Price said Abbott was lucky to have a witness to the assault because some yes campaigners would accuse him of making the story up if he didn’t. | Price said Abbott was lucky to have a witness to the assault because some yes campaigners would accuse him of making the story up if he didn’t. |
| “Oh without a doubt,” Bolt said. | “Oh without a doubt,” Bolt said. |
| Alex Greenwich MP, the co-chair of The Equality Campaign, has condemned the attack. | Alex Greenwich MP, the co-chair of The Equality Campaign, has condemned the attack. |
| “There is absolutely no place for violence in the marriage equality debate. This is about treating people fairly and with respect & dignity,” he said on Twitter. | “There is absolutely no place for violence in the marriage equality debate. This is about treating people fairly and with respect & dignity,” he said on Twitter. |
| “Marriage equality is about respect and dignity for every Australian ... our campaign has always and will continue to call for respect and everyone involved in this debate to act in a respectful and dignified way,” he said in a separate statement. | “Marriage equality is about respect and dignity for every Australian ... our campaign has always and will continue to call for respect and everyone involved in this debate to act in a respectful and dignified way,” he said in a separate statement. |
| Bolt later talked about the incident on his Thursday evening Sky News program, utterly condemning the attack. | Bolt later talked about the incident on his Thursday evening Sky News program, utterly condemning the attack. |
| Australian Associated Press contributed to this report | Australian Associated Press contributed to this report |
| Tony Abbott | |
| Australian politics | |
| Tasmania | |
| Hobart | |
| Coalition | |
| Liberal party | |
| news | |
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