Tony Abbott ‘headbutted’: man charged

A man who claims to have headbutted Tony Abbott says it had nothing to do with same-sex marriage.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott speaks to media outside the Henry Jones Hotel on Hobart's waterfront this morning. Picture: Luke Bowden

The man who claims to have headbutted Tony Abbott on a Hobart street insists the attack had nothing to do with same-sex marriage.

The 38-year-old North Hobart man said he had been drinking before spotting the former prime minister, for whom he said he harbours a “personal hatred”, the The Courier-Mail reports.

He said he had not intended for the incident to damage the marriage equality cause, which he supports.

“It was nothing really remotely to do with that. It’s just about Tony Abbott, the f***ing worm that he is,” the man is quoted as saying.

“All it was is I saw Tony Abbott and I’d had half a skinful and I wanted to nut the c***.

“I want to divorce myself [from the same-sex marriage issue] - not because I disagree with their stance - but this was nothing to do with that. That’s just my personal hatred.”

He said he had been wearing a same-sex marriage sticker on his jacket at the time of the alleged attack, as claimed by Mr Abbott, but he said it was just a coincidence.

“It was purely because a friend of mine had walked past handing them out and had stuck one on my jacket,” he said, claiming he had approached Mr Abbott on the Hobart waterfront.

“I was like ‘Tony, Tony’, I kind of trotted up behind him. I trotted up behind him, ‘I just want to shake your hand and just went bang. Kind of missed it. Gave him a fat lip.”

“He got off pretty lightly. He’s just lucky I’m not a violent c***.”

Tasmanian police said they had charged a 38-year-old North Hobart man with common assault. He was granted bail and is expected to appear in court on October 23.

Mr Abbott said he was assaulted by a supporter of the same-sex marriage cause yesterday while walking to his hotel after a meeting at the office of The Mercury newspaper.

Mr Abbott earlier clarified that his office contacted the Australian Federal Police immediately to report the incident - a “few hours” before he spoke to conservative political commentator Andrew Bolt and relayed what happened.

“Then I made a report to the Tasmanian Police as you’d expect,” he said.

Mr Abbott said if it was possible to identify the man then he thought “charges should be pressed”.

“While I don’t claim to be seriously hurt, people should not be violent on streets of Hobart or any other Australian city. And certainly you should never meet an opinion with a headbutt.”

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce also took aim at the man who allegedly headbutted Mr Abbott, saying people should be able to respect different views.

“I’ve got mates in the Yes case. I don’t reach over the dinner table and headbutt them,” he said. “People know that I’m in the so-called No case - whatever that means - and I believe in the current definition of marriage. Does that mean I’m some pastor or priest? No I’m not. I’m just a regular person with all the regular faults and failings.”

Tasmanian police earlier issued a detailed description of the wanted man and called for witnesses or friends and colleagues of the man to come forward.

“Hobart detectives are investigating this matter and urge the attacker to come forward to police,” they said, also calling for anyone with video or CCTV footage to hand it in. The alleged incident happened at Salamanca Place near the Customs House Hotel.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott outside his Hobart hotel this morning. Picture: Luke Bowden

‘Normally a handshake is a sign of trust and peace’

Earlier Mr Abbott has said he was “shocked” after he was allegedly headbutted by a man who he said was wearing a badge in favour of the Yes campaign in Hobart.

“It is a shock to have a fellow Australian seeking to shake your hand and turn a handshake into an assault,” Mr Abbott told reporters outside his hotel this morning.

“Normally a handshake is a sign of trust and peace.”

Mr Abbott said he has not sought police protection since the incident and asked Australians to keep the debate respectful.

“My plea to everyone in the remaining weeks of this debate is to keep it courteous keep it respectful, but above all else, respect the values, the institutions which have shaped us since the beginning of our journey and which I think should continue to shape us,” Mr Abbott said.

Malcolm Turnbull has said the alleged assault against Mr Abbott was one of a “small number” of incidents, which he “condemned” and said was “disgraceful”.

“This is a disgraceful incident and I condemn this assault on Tony. Any violence coming into our political life is absolutely to be condemned,” the Prime Minister told 3AW Radio.

“This is one of a relatively small number of incidents but any one is one too many.”

“The media will take an incident here, an incident there and give it enormous prominence and can create a misleading impression. Overwhelmingly Australians are approaching this with great respect.”

.@TurnbullMalcolm: Responsibility for political violence is on those who commit it. MORE: https://t.co/5qeDnnnRVo pic.twitter.com/5wXilFxx5g

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) September 22, 2017

Liberal frontbencher Christopher Pyne, who is in favour of same-sex marriage, voiced his disappointment at the alleged attack.

“People shouldn’t be physically attacked for having a different view about marriage equality, nor should they be attacked at the football for barracking for a different football team to the person sitting next to them, it’s an un-Australian thing to do,” the Defence Industry Minister said.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said: “It is never acceptable, it doesn’t matter who it is, where it is, violence in any circumstance is just not acceptable”.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said: “Well it’s obviously very unacceptable and clearly the perpetrator has done great damage to his cause.”

‘Just a reminder of how ugly this debate is getting’

Mr Abbott said he left the ­office of The Mercury newspaper and was making his way towards his hotel when he was approached by a man who wanted to shake his hand.

“A fellow sung out at me, ‘Hey Tony’. I turned around. There was a chap wearing a vote Yes badge,” Mr Abbott told Sydney’s 2GB.

“He says, ‘I want to shake your hand’.

“I went over to shake his hand then he headbutted me. He wasn’t very good at it, I’ve got to say, but he did make contact.

“The only damage was a very, very slightly swollen lip.”

Mr Abbott’s office issued a brief statement this morning saying that statements had been given to the police and that the “member of staff present at the incident sought to restrain the perpetrator after he assaulted Mr Abbott.”

“AFP were notified as soon as the incident occurred and both he and Mr Abbott have given statements to Tasmania Police.”

EXCLUSIVE: CCTV footage shows @TonyAbbottMHR moments before he was attacked by a same sex marriage supporter. MORE https://t.co/5qeDnnnRVo pic.twitter.com/hTbINOWT2V

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) September 21, 2017

Mr Abbott said he was with a member of his staff, who witnessed the exchange.

He said that the staff member had “briefly grappled” with the ­individual before the man ran away “swearing his head off”.

The Yes campaign have distanced themselves from the actions of the individual who headbutted Mr Abbott and argue that he was not associated with the campaign in any formal manner.

Mr Abbott said there could be no doubt that the alleged headbutt was motivated by his opposition to same-sex marriage, joking that it was an example of “politically motivated violence”.

“It was just a reminder of how ugly this debate is getting,” he said. “The ugliness is not coming from the defenders of marriage as it’s always been understood.

“The ugliness, the intolerance and, in this instance, the hint of ­violence, is coming from those who tell us ... that we’ve got to allow same-sex ­marriage.”

Turnbull, Shorten contact Abbott

Mr Turnbull said he called Mr Abbott last night, and Mr Abbott replied in a text message this morning.

“He sent me a message this morning and he said yes I spoke to Tasmania police last night and they will review the CCTV footage of the area to see what can be done.”

The Prime Minister also contacted AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten has also contacted Mr Abbott to check on his welfare and tweeted: “This is terrible — violence like this is never acceptable. I’m glad Mr Abbott isn’t seriously injured and I’ve rung him to say so.”

Cabinet minister Christopher Pyne said no one should be attacked for having a different view on marriage and it must have come as a nasty shock for Mr Abbott. “It is an un-Australian thing to do and I hope that Tony is okay,” he told the Nine Network.

Senator Eric Abetz also tweeted his “disappointment” at the incident.

Great to have @TonyAbbottMHR in Tas over last few days. Disappointed a yes campaigner would try to assault fmr PM. Must be condemned by all.

— Eric Abetz (@SenatorAbetz) September 21, 2017

Mr Abbott said he would be “very disappointed” if prominent politicians could no longer mingle with the public because of security concerns, saying this was one of the great things about Australia.

He said politicians expected to be approached and challenged by members of the public and that 99.9 per cent of the exchanges he personally had experienced were ­courteous. “But this was, I have to say, just a little bit disconcerting because it was so out of the blue,” Mr Abbott said. “It all happened in a matter of just a few seconds.”

When asked whether he thought of retaliating, Mr Abbott replied: “The thought certainly went through my mind but then I thought no, that just escalates (things)”.

Yes campaign condemns violence

The Marriage Equality campaign issued a statement last night saying that it condemned the violence against Mr Abbott.

“There is never a place for violence or abuse,” the statement said. “Marriage Equality is about respect and dignity for every Australian.”

“There is no room for any disrespect either physical or verbal in this national debate.”

“Our campaign has always and will continue to call for respect and everyone involved in this debate to act in a respectful and dignified way.”

Tasmanian marriage equality advocate Rodney Croome condemned the alleged assault as “beneath contempt” but also urged that the Yes campaign not be judged by the action of one person.

“This attack on Tony Abbott, like any violence on the basis of political belief, is beneath contempt and has no place in Australian public debate, especially when that debate is about love, commitment, tolerance and respect,” Mr Croome said.

“But I also urge Australians not to make a judgment about marriage equality on the basis of the delinquency of one person whose only link to the Yes campaign was wearing a badge.”

“I urge both Yes and No supporters to act with respect and restraint because, when this postal survey is over, we will still have to live side-by-side as Australians.”

With AAP