Student protesters target Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in Melbourne
POLICE fought off protesters with capsicum spray after they broke a glass door and hurled abuse at the PM as he entered a Melbourne function.
POLICE subdued protesters with capsicum spray after they broke a glass door and hurled abuse at Liberal MPs entering a function in Docklands.
A group of more than 100 screaming university students, unionists and refugee activists stormed the outside of a Liberal Party function on Harbour Esplanade where Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and former prime minister John Howard were set to speak.
The activists damaged the door leading to the function as they tried to gain entry, prompting police to use capsicum spray to subdue them.
Senator Arthur Sinodinos was jostled and drew particularly vitriolic abuse as he attempted to enter the function.
Leading Senior Constable Lee Thompson said police faced a difficult task controlling the unruly crowd, which also included some young children.
“Police respect the right of all people to protest peacefully however this (was) not the situation Victoria Police (faced),” she said.
The protest comes after it was revealed Victoria is set to pocket almost $1.1 billion extra in GST payments this year, providing a cash injection for the upcoming state budget.
The Commonwealth Grants Commission has recommended lifting Victoria’s share of the GST from 22.4 per cent to 22.9 per cent.
This still only returns to Victoria 91c in every dollar it generates in GST payments.
Originally published as Student protesters target Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in Melbourne
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