Abbott uninjured but shocked after headbutt incident

AUSTRALIA: Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott says he’s shocked but unscathed after being allegedly headbutted by a same-sex marriage supporter while walking the streets of Hobart.

Abbott was leaving the Hobart Mercury newspaper office when a man called out and asked to shake his hand, but then turned the gesture into a headbutt.

‘‘It is a shock to have a fellow Australian seeking to shake your hand and turn a handshake into an assault,’’ Abbott said. ’’Normally a handshake is a sign of trust and peace.’’

Police said they had arrested a 38-year-old man and charged him with common assault.

‘‘My plea to everyone in the remaining weeks of this debate is to keep it courteous, keep it respectful, but above all else, respect the values, the institutions which have shaped us since the beginning of our journey and which I think should continue to shape us,’’ Abbott said.

Malcolm Turnbull phoned his predecessor after the incident, and was in in touch again via text yesterday. ‘‘This is a disgraceful incident, and I condemn this assault on Tony,’’ Turnbull said.

Abbott was in Tasmania campaigning for the ‘‘no’’ vote in the national same-sex marriage survey, along with Liberal colleague Senator Eric Abetz.

Abetz had dinner with Abbott after the incident and described him as ‘‘stirred, but not shaken’’.

He agreed that the incident was out of character for the broader ‘‘yes’’ campaign but said ugliness on social media showed some would be empowered if the vote was successful.

‘‘This is just a bit of a harbinger of what is likely to occur, and it’s not the sort of Australia I want.’’

Cabinet minister Christopher Pyne said no-one should be attacked for having a different view on marriage. ‘‘It is an unAustralian thing to do, and I hope that Tony is OK.’’

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten described the attack as unacceptable.

‘‘I’m glad Mr Abbott isn’t seriously injured, and I’ve rung him to say so,’’ he said on Twitter.

Australia began a noncompulsory postal vote this month to determine whether it becomes the 25th country to legalise samesex marriage.

The emotionally charged campaign has seen an alarming volume of hate speech, spurring parliament to pass emergency legislation to outlaw opponents spewing their vitriol while the vote is in progress.

- AAP, Reuters