Queensland election: Police help Scott Morrison flee after activists attack car

Police have escorted Scott Morrison from the University of Queensland after refugee protesters vandalised his car.

Police have escorted Scott Morrison from the University of Queensland after refugee protesters vandalised his car with red paint and blockaded a building on Monday.

A small group of activists carrying banners also splashed red paint over the glass door entry to the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology Building at the university and blocked a doorway, chanting “free the refugees” and “eight years too long”.

The group threw tomatoes and brussel sprouts at the building, where the Prime Minister was visiting coronavirus vaccine labs.

Refugee protesters have thrown red paint during the PM’s visit to the University of Queensland. Picture: 7NEWS

Mr Morrison was reportedly locked in the building while his bodyguards devised a safe exit strategy.

He ran to a police car while surrounded by several body guards about 10:30am, as followed while shouting “free the refugees.”

The gatecrashers are understood to be from the Refugee Solidarity Meanjin group, which has been running a campaign outside a Kangaroo Point hotel where 120 refugees have been held under medevac laws for months.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said described the incident as “completely unacceptable”.

Refugee protesters have thrown red paint during his visit to the University of Queensland. Picture: 7NEWS

The Prime Minister, whose presence on the campaign trail has given the Liberal National Party a boost, will reunite with Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington’s on Tuesday when they appear together at a fundraiser in Brisbane.

Mr Morrison joined Ms Frecklington on the hustings on the Gold Coast on Saturday and at Redbank, west of Brisbane, on Sunday.

#BREAKING: Extraordinary scenes in Brisbane where protesters have ambushed the prime minister during a visit to the University of Queensland. @heinkealex #9News pic.twitter.com/SZRGAwst0u

— 9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) October 12, 2020

On Sunday night Ms Frecklington flew to Hervey Bay, 300km north of Brisbane, where she is hoping to sandbag the electorate held by retiring LNP stalwart Ted Sorensen on a 9.1 per cent margin.

The LNP lost 10.1 per cent of its primary vote in 2017, most of which went to One Nation, however, the party increased its overall margin by 2.6 per cent.

Adrian Tantari, who ran for Labor in 2017, is the party’s candidate again this year and will take on the LNP’s Steve Coleman.