Vet takes Yes support over the top

Fined for assaulting mate

An accomplished Gold Coast veterinarian has assaulted a friend of 30-plus years – cracking ribs and injuring a lung – in a wild confrontation sparked by the Voice referendum.

The encounter in front of onlookers at an investment club gathering has resulted in the accused copping a five-figure fine.

Tensions escalated between dedicated Yes campaigner Dr Anthony Philip Benjamin, 72, and his victim at the meeting in Mudgeeraba on September 14.

Southport Magistrates Court was told the referendum had been discussed before Benjamin (pictured) removed his Yes T-shirt and forced it over the other man’s head, grabbing his hand to stop him when he later tried to remove it. He also took a photo of his victim on his phone.

Benjamin lashed out when he returned from the bathroom and found his friend had removed the item, grabbing his victim’s own shirt so hard that buttons were ripped off.

The court was told the retired former chief surgeon then pushed the other man off his chair – causing him to hit his head – before falling on top of him, saying words to the effect of “you ungrateful racist pig”.

Benjamin started punching his 68-year-old victim’s ribs and pressed his elbow across his windpipe when the other man tried to defend himself by putting the vet in a headlock.

Others at the meeting soon intervened.

His victim sought medical treatment for injuries including fractured ribs and damage to a lung, the court was told.

Benjamin went to his former friend’s home the next day with flowers and an apology card, and later sent several texts and an email expressing his shame and regret.

Defence lawyer Erin Mitchell, of Potts Lawyers, said her client made the “probably very unwise” decision to wear his Yes T-shirt to the meeting as a show of support to club members who had raised concerns about comments made about the referendum at the previous meeting.

Ms Mitchell said Benjamin’s victim was one of several people who responded to his invitation to a Yes presentation with “derogatory responses and mockery” – then made the comment that provoked Benjamin’s “aggressive” shirt swap.

“(The victim) remarked that voting yes will just let them do what the Maori have done in his homeland in New Zealand, taking all the land and ruining the country,” she said.

Ms Mitchell said Benjamin and his wife were also dedicated volunteers with Indigenous organisations and had copped backlash throughout the Yes campaign, exacerbating his frustrations that night.

The court was told the grandfather had since resigned from the investment club – which he helped found – and taken rehabilitative steps, including a psychological coaching course.

Benjamin pleaded guilty to one count of serious assault of a person aged over 60.

Benjamin was fined $10,000 and ordered to pay a further $3000 in compensation to his victim.

No conviction was recorded.