Gunmen were trying to kill me: Kennett

FORMER premier Jeff Kennett's revelations that he was twice shot at while in power have stunned Victoria's political circles.

FORMER premier Jeff Kennett's revelations that he was twice shot at while in power have stunned Victoria's political circles.

Mr Kennett said yesterday he had heard a shot while walking down a Melbourne street, amid fierce public opposition to staging the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park, near the Melbourne CBD, in the mid-1990s.

"Given my army training, I knew what it was," Mr Kennett said on radio. "I was scared, absolutely scared."

Declining to give specific details, Mr Kennett said the other shooting incident had alarmed him more.

"The other time was a little bit more frightening because I was in an environment I was not comfortable (in)," he said. "It was one 'zing' that I heard."

Asked if he believed people had tried to kill him, Mr Kennett said: "I don't think they were trying to put a filling in my teeth."

He said no one was ever charged over the shooting attempts.

Former grand prix chairman Ron Walker yesterday confirmed Mr Kennett had been shot at during the grand prix protests.

"Those were very violent days," he said. "I received silver bullets in the mail and was in the car with then deputy premier Pat McNamara when protesters tried to destroy his ministerial car."

Mr Walker said he and Mr Kennett had put on extra security at the time to deal with the threats and violence. He said Mr Kennett did tell him he had been shot at during the protests.

Premier John Brumby was surprised to hear of Mr Kennett's claim during a media conference yesterday, saying he had never heard of the shootings.

"I've never had any security or police advice to that effect," he said. "It was not something that I was aware of. To my knowledge, I have not been shot at."

Mr Brumby said he was not worried about his own personal safety.

"I find overwhelmingly across Victoria that people are respectful," he said. "Often you'll meet people with a different view but they'll express that in a respectful way - not always, but generally."