Egg Bounces Off Aussie PM's Head

Woman charged with common assault
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted May 7, 2019 3:13 AM CDT

Australia's prime minister was hit on the head with an egg and a woman was knocked off her feet Tuesday during a protest ahead of a general election next week. The egg appeared to strike Prime Minister Scott Morrison on the back of the head then bounce off without breaking as he spoke to voters at a hall in the regional town of Albury, the AP reports. Bystander Margaret Baxter was knocked to the floor as security guards grabbed a 25-year-old woman who is accused of throwing the egg and carried her outside. Morrison helped Baxter to her feet. He later suggested the protester was part of a militant movement that raids farms that it accuses of cruelty to animals.

"My concern about today's incident in Albury was for the older lady who was knocked off her feet," Morrison 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," he added. Baxter said she had been knocked over by a cameraman. She said she landed on her hip but was not injured. Outside the hall, the protester told reporters she did not mean to knock anyone down. The protester, who did not identify herself, said Morrison "deserved it" and described throwing the egg as "the most harmless thing you can do." The woman, who was arrested and charged with common assault, said she was protesting the government's treatment of asylum seekers on Manus Island, the Guardian reports.

(More Australia stories.)

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