Man arrested after clash with activists
A PUBLIC town hall meeting hosted by Labor leader Bill Shorten was marred by an ugly scuffle last night with a man charged with assaulting anti- Adani protesters.
About 20 anti- Adani protesters gathered on the footpath outside Currajong State School for a “peaceful demonstration” when they were confronted by a Townsville man trying to attend the meeting.
A scuffle broke out with several protesters claiming they had been assaulted by the man. Police escorted the man, 54, inside the school grounds and questioned him.
Kirwan police officer- incharge Senior Sergeant Jason Brosnan said the man was charged with three counts of common assault and was issued a formal move on order.
He said the man was himself considering pressing charges against some of the protesters. The incident was caught on waiting media cameras, which will be used as evidence.
Sen- Sgt Brosnan said when the man was asked why he committed the alleged assault he told officer “he was sick of protesters”.
Protester Gail Hamilton said the demonstration was “peaceful” and blamed the alleged assaults on “encouragement” from Dawson MP George Christensen and Whitsunday regional councillor Mike Brunker.
Once the meeting got under way, Mr Shorten was asked about how he was going to address soaring insurance premiums, the cost of living, cyber- bullying, the city’s dwindling water supply and improve funding for schools and health care.
Earlier in the day, Mr Shorten continued to disparage Adani’s Carmichael coal project, saying whether it gains finance is questionable.
Meanwhile, Resources and Northern Australia Minister Matt Canavan says the Labor leader has “gone cold” on the project because of Greens pressure in Melbourne where Labor is fighting a by- election.