World / Politics

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison egged on campaign trail

18:00 pm on 7 May 2019

Australian prime minister Scott Morrison has been egged by a protester at a Country Women's Association event in the rural town of Albury on the New South Wales-Victoria border.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is hit by an egg at a Country Women's Association. Photo: Fair use / ABC

A woman walked up behind him and threw an egg at his head. It bounced off and didn't smash.

The woman - who had a carton of eggs with her - was tackled to the floor by security, knocking over an elderly woman in the process.

It's not clear what point the egg-thrower was making or whether she is from an organised group.

The protester did not answer questions from journalists after being thrown out of the building and the CWA said the protester was not one of their members.

In a statement, NSW Police said the egg which was thrown at Mr Morrison actually hit a different woman.

Mr Morrison appeared unfazed in the minutes after the incident, continuing to greet some of the hundreds of attendees.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Photo: AP

He later attended a Liberal Party event across the border in Wodonga in the electorate of Indi.

"My concern about today's incident in Albury was for the older lady who was knocked off her feet," he tweeted.

"I helped her up and gave her a hug.

"Our farmers have to put up with these same idiots who are invading their farms and their homes.

"We will stand up to thuggery whether it's these cowardly activists who have no respect for anyone, or militant unionists standing over small businesses and their employees on work sites."

NSW Police later confirmed the protester had been taken into custody.

Speaking from Melbourne, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten the egging was "appalling and disgraceful behaviour".

"In Australia we have violence-free elections, people are allowed to protest peacefully but anything approaching violence is unacceptable," he said.

"If this protester thinks she will get sympathy or support from me, she couldn't be more wrong."

Earlier this year, Queensland senator Fraser Anning had an egg smashed over his head by a Melbourne teenager in March, after he linked Muslim immigration to the Christchurch mosque massacre.