Fraser Anning supporter in physical altercation with photographer
The photographer allegedly attacked by a Fraser Anning supporter in Cronulla has spoken out, as it emerged he needs an MRI scan.
Federal Election
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Fraser Anning says he condemns violence of any sort after an alleged attack following his press conference but said he didn’t see what happened or what led up to it.
A 19-year-old supporter of Senator Anning has been charged today after allegedly assaulting a photographer following a press conference held by Senator Anning in Sydney.
Mr Anning said the incident happened after the press conference finished and he had left the area so couldn’t comment on it.
“I wasn’t there so I don’t know what went down or what led up to it,” he said.
But he said he didn’t want any his supporters to be assaulting anyone.
“I condemn any violence, I’ve never advocated for any violence of any sort to anyone,” he said.
When asked why physical altercations seemed to be happening at his press events, he said: “Some people are crazy I guess.”
Senator Anning had an egg cracked on to his head by a teenager last month and responded by slapping the boy in the face. The 17-year-old, dubbed Eggboy, was later pinned to the ground and kicked by a bystander.
The senator said he couldn’t speak for those people who attacked people if they didn’t agree with their views.
When asked whether he took any responsibility for the actions of his supporter, he said: “It’s pretty hard to take responsibility for somebody’s actions.
“People do silly things from all walks of life.”
If it was proved the supporter had done something wrong “without provocation”, Senator Anning said he would expel him from his party.
“If he was hit first he has the right to protect himself like anyone does,” Senator Anning said. “If he’s just assaulted somebody then obviously he wouldn’t be welcome in my party.”
Senator Anning said there were crazy people from both the right and left wing.
“The left-wing supporters are violent, much more violent than any of supporters that I’ve seen in our party but, as I said, I condemn any violence at any time,” he said.
Senator Anning also slammed Prime Minister Scott Morrison after hearing the Coalition would now preference his party last in almost every seat.
He described the move as “hypocrisy” and said he couldn’t believe a conservative party would put his Christian conservative party behind the “toxic mix of Labor and the Greens”.
Senator Anning’s comments come after a teenager from Randwick was detained by police in Sydney’s south after an altercation with News Corp reporter Eliza Barr and photographer Dylan Robinson.
“Today was a very distressing day and unlike anything else I have ever dealt with in my career so far,” Barr told Sky News on Friday night.
“That was distressing knowing there was nothing I could do except wait for the police to show up. I knew I couldn’t get in the middle of two grown men and make them stop.”
Barr said the extent of Robinson’s injuries was “not known” but he was punched in the head and was going for an MRI scan.
“It is very distressing to watch (the footage). I have been speaking with Dylan all afternoon, he’s incredibly stoic. I’m grateful to have a colleague who is willing to step in to defend me.”
Journalists, photographers and any media should not be subject to any level of verbal or physical abuse for doing their job. I hope in future people will learn to express opinion in an intelligent and constuctive way, rather than derogatory comment and physical abuse. https://t.co/DG8TbpMUB2
— Dylan Robinson (@DylRobinson) April 26, 2019
Robinson tweeted on Friday night, “Journalists, photographers and any media should not be subject to any level of verbal or physical abuse for doing their job. I hope in future people will learn to express opinion in an intelligent and constructive way, rather than derogatory comment and physical abuse.”
The incident happened after Senator Anning held a press conference in Duningham Park in Cronulla with his candidate for Scott Morrison’s seat of Cook, Peter Kelly.
Some of Senator Anning’s supporters were present for the press conference, and took exception to Barr’s line of questioning.
They then followed her out of the park. Robinson went to see if she was OK.
In a statement, police say the 19-year-old allegedly made intimidating comments to the journalist and when her colleague tried to intervene, he was allegedly assaulted.
“The male cameraman had his equipment knocked to the ground and his shirt ripped during the alleged assault,” the statement said.
Police say they have now charged the 19-year-old with common assault, intimidation and behaving in an offensive manner.
Video footage shows the altercation started as Robinson walked up alongside the 19-year-old and started to raise his camera. The man then lashed out, swatting at the camera before grabbing Robinson’s shirt and swinging at him.
“Hey, stop. Stop! Help!” a bystander shouted.
She took the 19-year-old’s side, telling Robinson: “You came up to threaten.”
“No,” he replied.
“Yes you did, I saw it all,” she told him.
“I asked him what he said,” the photographer said.
Another man then entered the picture.
“If you don’t want to aggravate the situation, go that way,” he said to Robinson.
“Walk away,” Barr told the man.
“I don’t have to walk anywhere. And you need to understand what’s happening all over the world,” he responded.
“He’s already in trouble. He just abused me,” Barr said, motioning at the 19-year-old.
“I understand that; that’s not acceptable,” he said.
Cops eventually loaded the young man into a police wagon and took him to Sutherland police station.
After the incident, Senator Anning found the time to tweet about banning Muslim and “black” immigration.
His party officially entered the election race today, and its candidates were about as wild as you would expect.
Among them is Shane Van Duren, a veteran with a criminal history that includes assaulting a police officer and choking an RSPCA inspector, and Julie Hoskin, a former councillor whose undischarged bankruptcy means she’s currently ineligible to sit in parliament.
Senator Anning’s party calls for “an immigration program that gives preference to those best able to integrate and assimilate”. It opposes same-sex marriage and supports loosening gun laws.
RELATED: Fraser Anning’s party enters the race
The Liberal National Party has announced it will preference Senator Anning’s candidates last in every Queensland electorate, with the sole exception of Longman, where it says the Australia First party is “even worse”.
That decision contradicts what Capricornia MP Michelle Landry told Rockhampton’s Morning Bulletin earlier. Ms Landry indicated she would prefer to preference Senator Anning’s candidate in the seat above Labor and the Greens.
“Obviously head office makes the final decisions on it all but I’m pretty sure there will be a mix of them down the bottom there, and Greens and Labor will certainly be there,” Ms Landry said.
“I do not agree with Fraser Anning, so he will probably be third-last.”
Ms Landry later said she “abhorred” what Senator Anning stands for and acknowledged his candidates would indeed be put last on her how-to-vote cards.
Conservative Senator Cory Bernardi was interviewed about the violent incident on Sky News this afternoon.
“There’s no excuse for violence in political campaigning. I’m never going to condone that,” Mr Bernardi said.
“Fraser Anning, his policy agenda is not my cup of tea at all. I’ve seen him chase some rabbits down some very dark burrows.”
But he indicated he would not preference Senator Anning’s candidates last, instead reserving that spot for either the Communist Party or the Greens.
“The Labor Party once again say, you’ve got to put One Nation last. You’ve got to put Fraser Anning last. You can’t put both of them last. You’ve got to choose between them,” he said.
“I would put the Communist Party last, I would put the Greens last, because I think they’re absolutely dangerous.”
The Prime Minister described the attack on Robinson as “appalling”.
Scott Morrison was asked about it during a press conference held in Gladstone, north of Brisbane.
He was asked whether he had done enough to condemn Anning’s anti-Islamic and racist behaviour.
“I have done it, and I haven’t minced my words about it, as you would well know,” he said.
“That type of behaviour has no place in Australia, that type of violence that we’ve seen today. And I’m glad our local police and security people down in the Shire have taken that matter into hand.
“There’s no place for that in Australian politics either. People should be able to go to work, whether you’re a photographer or anyone else, and not be subjected to that sort of violence.
“I find it absolutely appalling.”
Originally published as Fraser Anning supporter in physical altercation with photographer