Anthony Albanese escorted into car after angry farmers crash event

Anthony Albanese’s Federal Police protective detail jumped into action on Thursday, when protesters crashed a Victorian event.

Anthony Albanese was rushed into a car after protesters gatecrashed an event. Picture : Facebook

The Prime Minister was forced to take cover in a nearby vehicle after angry protesters ambushed him at an event in regional Victoria on Thursday.

Farmers gatecrashed the opening of a water park in Horsham – a regional city located about three-and-a-half hours out from Melbourne – where Anthony Albanese was chatting to locals.

As the mood turned Mr Albanese was ushered to his car, according to local media.

A security escort by his Federal Police protective detail accompanied the Prime Minister, the Mail-Times reports.

As Mr Albanese left the scene, protesters made “offensive hand gestures” and “cheered and hugged” following his departure, according to the ABC.

About 40 farmers are understood to have protested at the event, with the intentions of discussing the Victoria to NSW Interconnector West project.

The scheme will see an electricity interconnector – a connection that allows power to flow bidirectionally between regions in the National Electricity Market – installed between the two states.

It’s understood this connector will take place in the form of overhead powerlines, with TransGrid and the Australian Energy Market Operator Victorian Planning (AVP) currently assessing its technical and economic viability.

This infrastructure will consequently unlock access to renewable energy and in return, hopefully lower power bills.

Locals rallied at the presentation of the new Horsham Nature and Water Play Park to protest. Picture: Facebook / Anne Webster MP

But according to The Farmer Magazine, farmers have raised concerns about the project suggesting it will impact prime agricultural land and will run through their properties.

Despite the farmers holding large signs urging Labor to “hold a senate inquiry” among other boldly written messages, Mr Albanese appeared to not know what the farmers were protesting about.

“It wasn’t quite clear what they were demonstrating about,” Mr Albanese said, according to the Daily Mail.

He added there had been ongoing “substantive consultations” within the community, and said while people were entitled to their opinions, they should go about sharing them respectfully.

It’s understood Thursday’s protest was the first of many to come, with Victorian farmer Glenden Watts telling the Mail-Times the group were present at the water park unveiling to raise awareness.

“There needs to be a senate inquiry. It’s (Albanese’s) government that’s pushing this through,” he said.

A Victoria Police spokesperson told news.com.au “police attended a demonstration at Sawyer Park in Horsham on 29 June. There were no issues and no arrests”.

Keeping our rivers healthy means more of us can enjoy Australia's nature.

It's something the locals here in Horsham know.

They've campaigned for a new nature park and riverfront for years.

I'm proud to have delivered this project with Horsham Council and the VIC Government. pic.twitter.com/glvLzo7YNN

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) June 29, 2023

News spread quick about Mr Albanese’s sudden departure from the Wimmera River city, with several people taking to social media to question the Prime Minister’s response.

“Albanese is in Horsham, opening a water fun park. The local farmers offered their opinion … and what did he do, did he front up? Did he hold a hose? No he did a runner jumped into the Comm Car and bolted!” one person tweeted.

“Well done to the farmers and locals!” a fellow farmer added.

A third said: “Horsham ‘booed’ Albanese out of town. He tried to speak, but got booed and jeered so loudly, that he had to leave early. So proud of Horsham.”

It’s been eight years since a sitting Prime Minister has visited the regional town.