Labor MP Terri Butler’s Brisbane office hit by car

Police are talking to the female driver of a car that smashed into the Brisbane office of federal Labor MP for Griffith, Terri Butler, before driving off earlier this afternoon.

The Brisbane office of federal Labor MP for Griffith, Terri Butler, has been rammed by a car in a dramatic incident. Picture: Twitter/@terrimbutler

Police are talking to the female driver of a car that smashed into the Brisbane office of federal Labor MP for Griffith, Terri Butler in a dramatic incident.

Ms Butler, who wasn’t present at the time, said it was a shock to return to her office and find it had been rammed by a driver who fled the scene.

Staffers at her office on Old Cleveland Rd in Greenslopes heard a loud crash about 1pm as a sedan ploughed through the glass doors of the reception area.

No one was injured.

“I’m fine. I wasn’t there and I was just more worried about these guys,” Ms Butler said of her staff.

The car then fled the scene, with the driver attending the Coorparoo Police Station later in the afternoon to assist with their inquiries.

Charges have not been laid.

Ms Butler tweeted shortly after that no one had been injured and that she was OK, thanking people for their concern.

Member for Griffith Terri Butler outside her office following the incident.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said, on Twitter, that he had spoken to Ms Butler this afternoon.

“Staff were present at the time, but thankfully no-one has been injured. @QldPolice and @AusFedPolice are providing support, and investigations are underway,” he said.

CCTV footage from Ms Butler’s office captured the moment the car reversed from the building and drove off.

Queensland police and federal police were at the scene about 2pm taking statements.

Ms Butler said she wouldn’t speculate on who would ram her office or their intentions.

“We have no idea,” she told The Courier-Mail.

Ms Butler said it was shocking when any workplace incident happens but she was grateful for good security and that everyone was safe.

The damage to Labor MP Terri Butler's office.

“And we’ve had such a great response from the police – the Queensland Police and Federal Police – and the community has been checking on us,” Ms Butler said.

“All the local shopkeepers came and checked on us which was really nice.

“We’re feeling really supported.”

Carly Daniel was at the office at the time of the crash, describing a “really loud bang”.

She said it was lucky she was taking a phone call during the incident rather than welcoming a member of the public through the front door as she does several times a day.

“I think we all just sort of jumped up and called the police straight away.” Ms Daniel said.

Shards of glass littered the reception area but Ms Butler said the actual office behind suffered no damage.

She was making her way back from an announcement at Ipswich when the incident occurred.

“It’s never great time for a workplace incident so I’m just glad no one was harmed,” Ms Butler said.

“In a way it’s good timing because tomorrow at this time there was the school strike for climate.”

Member for Griffith Terri Butler outside her office following the incident.

Ms Butler said the outcome could have been dire had it occurred while the schoolchildren were carrying out their protest.

Businessman Clark Vanderbyl of Craftbuilt Kitchens next door, said Ms Butler’s office was “quite banged up”.

He said a witness had told him the vehicle had “buggered off”.

“It was quite strange. I only heard it, squealing of types and loud crash and by the time I walked out the car was gone,” Mr Vanderbyl said.

“It sounded like a heavy vehicle or something had lost control. It sounded like they jackknifed and hit the building.

“I don’t believe it was malicious but I don’t know.”