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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/13/political-circus-comes-to-pellegrinis-as-cafe-reopens-after-bourke-street-attack
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| Political circus arrives at Pellegrini’s as cafe reopens after Bourke Street attack | Political circus arrives at Pellegrini’s as cafe reopens after Bourke Street attack |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| First came the crowds of mourners. Then came the politicians and a media circus. | First came the crowds of mourners. Then came the politicians and a media circus. |
| The Italian Melbourne institution Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar reopened on Tuesday morning following the tragic death of its much-loved co-owner Sisto Malaspina, who was killed in a terror attack last week. | |
| The 74-year-old died and two other men were injured when when Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, 30, set a ute on fire and went on a knife rampage in Bourke Street. | The 74-year-old died and two other men were injured when when Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, 30, set a ute on fire and went on a knife rampage in Bourke Street. |
| Outside Pellegrini’s, long-time patrons and well-wishers queued to sign condolence books, as bouquets of flowers stretched 30 metres down a laneway. | Outside Pellegrini’s, long-time patrons and well-wishers queued to sign condolence books, as bouquets of flowers stretched 30 metres down a laneway. |
| A schoolgirl cried into the arms of her friend, and Italian friends shared their memories of the great man. | A schoolgirl cried into the arms of her friend, and Italian friends shared their memories of the great man. |
| Inside, staff bustled about serving free cups of long black coffees – Malaspina’s favourite drink. | Inside, staff bustled about serving free cups of long black coffees – Malaspina’s favourite drink. |
| At the far end of the cafe, Malaspina’s usual stool stood empty while a long black coffee and a single red rose sat atop a copy of a newspaper with his smiling face on the front cover. A white candle burned beside it. | At the far end of the cafe, Malaspina’s usual stool stood empty while a long black coffee and a single red rose sat atop a copy of a newspaper with his smiling face on the front cover. A white candle burned beside it. |
| But the poignant scene didn’t last long. | But the poignant scene didn’t last long. |
| The Victorian opposition leader, Matthew Guy, and the prime minister, Scott Morrison, soon dropped by with a huge press pack of television crews, reporters and photographers in tow. | The Victorian opposition leader, Matthew Guy, and the prime minister, Scott Morrison, soon dropped by with a huge press pack of television crews, reporters and photographers in tow. |
| The prime minister ordered a flat white and expressed sympathies to staff and co-owner, Nino Pangrazio. | The prime minister ordered a flat white and expressed sympathies to staff and co-owner, Nino Pangrazio. |
| “We’ve all got to find our Sisto smiles; that’s the best message we can send,” Morrison said. | “We’ve all got to find our Sisto smiles; that’s the best message we can send,” Morrison said. |
| “It’s very humbling to be here, just listening to the stories of Sisto. There are so many people here, celebrating a life well lived regardless of how violently and terribly it was taken.” | “It’s very humbling to be here, just listening to the stories of Sisto. There are so many people here, celebrating a life well lived regardless of how violently and terribly it was taken.” |
| Morrison later denied he was politicising a tragedy by campaigning for the Victorian state election at a site of mourning. | Morrison later denied he was politicising a tragedy by campaigning for the Victorian state election at a site of mourning. |
| “I’m not. I’m here to pay my respects and talk to the very issues that took place right here in this street,” he said. | “I’m not. I’m here to pay my respects and talk to the very issues that took place right here in this street,” he said. |
| Fifty metres up the road during a press conference with Morrison, Guy didn’t miss the opportunity to talk up his party’s tough-on-crime policy. | Fifty metres up the road during a press conference with Morrison, Guy didn’t miss the opportunity to talk up his party’s tough-on-crime policy. |
| “We’ll make sure those who commit crime are appropriately punished, that first responders, who are protecting us, have every method at their disposal to keep us safe,” Guy said. | “We’ll make sure those who commit crime are appropriately punished, that first responders, who are protecting us, have every method at their disposal to keep us safe,” Guy said. |
| Asked if Guy could win the election Morrison responded: “I really hope he does, because it’s what Victoria needs and not just on issues of law and order. | Asked if Guy could win the election Morrison responded: “I really hope he does, because it’s what Victoria needs and not just on issues of law and order. |
| “He’s got a vision for Victoria as a lifelong Melburnian – the heart and soul of Melbourne beats in him as well … I think he’d do an outstanding job and I’m thrilled to be here with him today.” | |
| Cafe patron, Ian Kelly, didn’t think the pair’s visit was in good taste. | Cafe patron, Ian Kelly, didn’t think the pair’s visit was in good taste. |
| “They can’t help themselves, can they?” he told the Guardian Australia. | “They can’t help themselves, can they?” he told the Guardian Australia. |
| Janet Stockley, who was also waiting to sign the condolence book, agreed. | Janet Stockley, who was also waiting to sign the condolence book, agreed. |
| “It’s inappropriate,” she said. | “It’s inappropriate,” she said. |
| Nonetheless, Pangrazio said he was grateful for the politicians’ whirlwind visit. | Nonetheless, Pangrazio said he was grateful for the politicians’ whirlwind visit. |
| “It was great honour, for me and also a great honour in the rememberance of Sisto,” he said. “Both of them had very kind words.” | “It was great honour, for me and also a great honour in the rememberance of Sisto,” he said. “Both of them had very kind words.” |
| Guy regularly frequents the cafe, because state parliament is not far away on Spring Street, Pangrazio said. | Guy regularly frequents the cafe, because state parliament is not far away on Spring Street, Pangrazio said. |
| The federal opposition leader, Bill Shorten, visited the cafe on Saturday while it was still closed, to sign the condolence book. | The federal opposition leader, Bill Shorten, visited the cafe on Saturday while it was still closed, to sign the condolence book. |
| “[Sisto is] a Melbourne icon and a true gentleman. Impossible to imagine the devastation for his family and staff,” Shorten said on Instagram. | “[Sisto is] a Melbourne icon and a true gentleman. Impossible to imagine the devastation for his family and staff,” Shorten said on Instagram. |
| Bourke Street attack | Bourke Street attack |
| Melbourne | Melbourne |
| Victoria | Victoria |
| Australian politics | Australian politics |
| Scott Morrison | Scott Morrison |
| Victorian election 2018 | Victorian election 2018 |
| Crime - Australia | Crime - Australia |
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