This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/29/victorian-ministers-jostled-as-police-clash-with-east-west-link-protesters

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Victorian ministers jostled as police clash with East West Link protesters Victorian ministers jostled as police clash with East West Link protesters
(about 2 hours later)
Victorian cabinet ministers have been jostled as police clashed with protesters who tried to block a Liberal party fundraiser.Victorian cabinet ministers have been jostled as police clashed with protesters who tried to block a Liberal party fundraiser.
About 50 opponents of the East West Link were outnumbered by police but scuffles broke out as the protesters tried to stop people from entering the Regent Theatre Plaza, where the function was held. About 50 East West Link opponents were outnumbered by police, but scuffles broke out as the protesters tried to stop people entering the fundraiser at the Regent Theatre Plaza on Thursday, jostling Victorian cabinet ministers.
The transport minister, Terry Mulder, and health minister, David Davis, were among those who were jostled as police broke the line of protesters to allow the ministers to enter. A 24-year-old Northcote woman, a Coburg man, 23, and a Lower Templestowe man, 24, were interviewed in relation to assaulting police, a Victoria Police spokeswoman said on Friday. The trio are expected to be charged on summons, she said.
The premier, Denis Napthine, dodged the protesters by coming in through a side entrance. Transport minister Terry Mulder and health minister David Davis were among those who were jostled as police broke the line of protesters to allow the ministers to enter. The two-hour protest ended when demonstrators were told the premier, Denis Napthine, was already inside.
At least two people were arrested, one of them twice. State Liberal MP Brad Battin took to Twitter to vent his anger.
The two-hour protest ended when demonstrators were told Napthine was already inside. “Disgraceful behaviour #EWLink protesters who thought it ok to push my wife. Shame, you are free to protest as I am free to support the Link,” he wrote.
Protest organiser Anthony Main said the demonstration was a success. Health minister Davis condemned the protesters.
“We’re not surprised the premier had to sneak in the back door,” he told reporters. “I don’t think there was a huge amount of people going in there tonight,” he said. “This was a very nasty, violent group of people prepared to push and jostle and threaten people, including elderly people and our hardworking police and it’s simply unacceptable,” he told Fairfax Radio.