Former Australian PM says same-sex vote led to attack

THE godson of Kevin Rudd was punched in the face during a confrontation with a man who was tearing down rainbow flags at a bus stop in Brisbane, according to the former Australian prime minister, who blamed a divisive vote on same-sex marriage for the attack.

The former Australian Labor Party leader uploaded a photograph of 19-year-old musician Sean Foster’s bloodied face to Twitter yesterday and lashed out at prime minister Malcolm Turnbull for allowing the postal vote, which started on Tuesday.

“So many warnings to Turnbull about what this postal vote could unleash,” Mr Rudd wrote. “Now my godson Sean has been punched while sitting at his bus stop, for objecting when a man began ripping down rainbow banners and hurling verbal abuse.”

News of the alleged attack came as Australia’s parliament passed emergency legislation to strengthen punishment for abuse in response to hate speech during the lead-up to the ballot.

Same-sex marriage lobby group Bulimba 4 Marriage Equality, which produced the rainbow flags, claimed the man was yelling gay slurs when he looked at Mr Foster, who replied: “That’s OK, I don’t like you.” The man then asked if Mr Foster was calling him a “homophobe”, and when he replied “yes”, Mr Foster was allegedly punched.

Mr Turnbull is backing a “yes” vote, but was warned that the non-binding survey could unleash homophobic abuse.