MP Jane Garrett’s accused attacker known to her and other Labor Party figures

UPDATE: THE woman charged with attacking former Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett has had a long history of interaction with Labor Party figures.

A WOMAN has been charged over a vicious attack on former Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett.

The 52-year-old woman, understood to be Elizabeth Wertheim who has a long history of interaction with Labor Party figures, is facing a string of charges.

They comprise contravention of a final personal safety intervention order, four counts of unlawful assault, recklessly and intentionally causing injury and resisting police.

Yarra Crime Investigation Unit detectives laid the charges today.

Ms Wertheim was released to face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on October 27.

The Herald Sun understands that Ms Wertheim has also been in contact with other female Labor MPs.

She has been known to Ms Garrett and the pair are believed to have had issues in the past.

The contact has gone back to the days when Ms Garrett was a Yarra councillor.

Ms Garrett said yesterday’s alleged attack in Carlton was “horrifying” and had shattered her sense of peace and security.

Ms Garrett was walking along Elgin St, near the corner of Drummond St, at 4.15pm when she was grabbed by her hair.

Elizabeth Wertheim allegedly attacked Jane Garrett in Carlton yesterday afternoon.

Ms Garrett suffered minor injuries.

Ms Wertheim is alleged to have then tried to push her through a plate-glass window near the Shaw Davey Slum pub.

Patrons came to Ms Garrett’s aid while the woman allegedly fled on foot.

This morning Ms Garrett, who suffered minor injuries, said the incident was “horrifying”.

“It was in broad daylight, it was just a shocking incident,” she said outside her home.

“Obviously shattered my sense of peace and shattered my sense of security, it was really horrifying.”

Ms Garrett said she had her headphones on when she noticed the woman on Elgin St yesterday afternoon.

“A woman was abusing me and then physically assaulted me in broad daylight,” she claimed.

“I’m really shaky, it was a horrifying ordeal.”

Ms Garrett said she was grateful for the support she had received from around the world.

“It was very distressing,” she said as she arrived at Parliament this morning.

“I’m very grateful for the people who came to my aid and the police were outstanding.”

“I’m sore today and very shaken.”

Premier Daniel Andrews expressed his shock this morning.

“A very, very nasty incident and it just reminds us that some in public life will encounter these nasty incidents from time to time and we all have to be vigilant,” he said.

The incident was captured on the pub’s CCTV.

Police speak to people at the scene last night. Picture: David Crosling

The alleged attack happened outside the Shaw Davey Slum Pub in Carlton. Picture: David Crosling

Earlier yesterday, staff at Ms Garrett’s Brunswick office arrived to discover someone had tried to smash a window. Her staff reported the incident to parliament.

At 6.15pm, police were still gathered outside the Shaw Davey Slum pub, which is on the fringe of the Lygon St restaurant district, speaking to patrons and staff.

Nobody from the pub was available to comment.

Chris Piper, on behalf of Mr Andrews, said: “As soon as the Premier heard, he called Ms Garrett to check on her welfare and to offer any and all support she may need.”

Ms Garrett, who had been considered a rising Labor star, resigned as minister in June amid the Country Fire Authority pay deal saga, sending shock waves through the party.

The Herald Sun is not suggesting yesterday’s incident was linked to the dispute or the United Firefighters Union.

Ms Garrett, previously an industrial relations lawyer and an adviser to former premier Steve Bracks, was elected to the seat of Brunswick in 2010 and re-elected in 2014.

She holds her seat by a margin of 2.2 per cent but has been battling a strong insurgence from the Greens. It is unclear if plans to move her to a safer outer-suburban seat, to keep her in parliament, will proceed after the CFA dispute.

The new CFA board signed off on the pay deal last week. But volunteers are taking Supreme Court action tomorrow to stop the agreement coming into force.

Victoria Police’s Amelia Penhall said: “Yarra Crime investigation unit detectives are investigating an assault in Carlton. A 43-year-old woman was walking along Drummond St, at the intersection of Elgin St, when she was assaulted by a woman who then ran off about 4.15pm. The victim sustained minor injuries.”

[e-mail]