Protester throws egg at Australia PM on election campaign trail


FE Team | Published: May 07, 2019 10:39:44 | Updated: May 07, 2019 16:30:00


Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison - Reuters file photo

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been egged by a protester while campaigning ahead of the nation's general election.

The egg grazed Mr Morrison's head but did not break, local media said. The incident also knocked an elderly woman to the ground.

Footage showed a 25-year-old woman being restrained at the scene. Police later said she had been arrested.

Mr Morrison described the egg thrower as "cowardly".

The incident happened at a Country Women's Association event in Albury, about 330km (200 miles) south-east of Canberra. No-one was injured.

Mr Morrison later praised his security staff for intervening quickly.

Farmers in Australia have faced protests by vegan activists in recent times, reports the BBC.

Mr Morrison is not the first Australian politician to be targeted by an egg-wielding protester this year.

In March, far-right Senator Fraser Anning was egged after making heavily criticised comments about the mosque shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand.

A 17-year-old boy was later cautioned by police over the egg incident.

Australians are due to vote in a general election on 18 May.

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