Victoria state election 2018: Equality Minister Martin Foley shoved during Pride Centre promise
VICTORIAN minister Martin Foley has tussled with a protester, who repeatedly shoved him and accused him of destroying marriage and the church. SEE THE VIDEO.
Victoria State Election
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VICTORIAN minister Martin Foley has tussled with a protester, who repeatedly shoved him and accused him of destroying marriage and the church.
The protester, a man dressed in a blue T-shirt and grey cap, targeted an event where the federal opposition pledged, if elected next year, $10 million for the planned Victorian Pride Centre.
Video appears to show the man yelling at federal deputy opposition leader Tanya Plibersek, asking: “why are you stealing franking credits from retired people?”
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When Mr Foley stepped in, and grabbed the man’s elbow, the man said: “You too. You destroy marriage, you destroy the church.”
After Mr Foley told him “let’s go, mate”, the man shoved the minister three times.
A number of people, including Ms Plibersek and entertainer Dolly Diamond, put their arms out to stop Mr Foley falling backwards and onto a model of the pride centre.
“Hey, hey, hey ... settle down please,” Ms Plibersek said.
The protester appeared to leave the event after the short scuffle, to which Mr Foley said: “there we go.”
Mr Foley was circumspect to comment greatly on the incident but said in a statement that “these matters happen from time to time in public life”.
“It was resolved quickly and without any further incident – and we all move on,” he said.
Based on San Francisco’s LGBT Community Centre, the pride centre in St Kilda will house LGBTI community organisations and groups as well as advisory, health and support services.
The Andrews Labor Government committed $15 million to the $35.5 million centre, with Port Phillip Council and the Victorian AIDS Council to also chip in.
Construction is likely to start next year.
Premier Daniel Andrews told media Mr Foley was acting to protect a colleague.
“I have not seen the footage or the detail of that but I had heard there was an incident, he did the right thing in trying to step in and keep safe one of his female colleagues, but I wouldn’t offer any further comment.”
Mr Andrews was touring the Downer Newport Railyards where the first of the fleet of High Capacity Metro Trains were rolling out. The first seven new cars will undergo testing at the facility before coming onto the suburban rail network.
Earlier, on a day when Mr Andrews highlighted the jobs his government had created, the premier was in Moreland announcing a new electric car vehicle factory would be located in the Latrobe Valley.
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