An anti-government protester has lunged at Julie Bishop's car as she left a C20 summit in Melbourne.
AN anti-government protester has lunged at Foreign Minister Julie Bishop’s car as she left a C20 summit in Melbourne.
Ms Bishop was leaving the summit after giving the keynote speech when the protester holding a banner hurled himself at her government car as it was driven away from the University of Melbourne today.
The man was arrested in the middle of the street, with a group of a dozen protesters chanting “This is a peaceful protest” and then “Let him go” as he was being handled by police.
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No fear ... a protester lunges at a car carrying Julie Bishop as she leaves the C20 summit in Melbourne. Picture: Sky News Source: Supplied
The protesters were airing concerns about job losses and university fees.
Ms Bishop was also targeted by protesters at the University of Sydney in May.
The deputy Liberal leader had to be ushered by security from the University of Sydney after being mobbed and heckled by about 20 students protesting against proposed cuts to education in the Federal Budget.
Ms Bishop today delivered the opening address to the C20 summit, the first of the lead-in summits before the G20 leaders’ meeting in Brisbane in November.
Not quick enough ... the protester is tackled by a security officer. Picture: Sky News Source: Supplied
The incident with the protester comes as Abbott government ministers had their security protection strengthened in the wake of the budget, but one argues it’s just part of selling “major reforms”.
Ms Bishop as well as Treasurer Joe Hockey, Education Minister Christopher Pyne and Assistant Defence Minister Stuart Robert have all been assigned Close Personal Protection officers from the Federal Police since the budget, according to Fairfax Media.
Down you go ... the protester was arrested at the scene but not before a tussle with security officers. Picture: Sky News Source: Supplied
Mr Pyne confirmed the assessment has been made, after joking on Channel Nine’s Today Show that he had no one protecting him this morning other than host Lisa Wilkinson.
“Certainly when I visit university campuses the Australian Federal Police have made the assessment that it’s wise for me to be accompanied by AFP officers and to do security checks in the places where I’m visiting,” he said.
Goodbye ... the bearded protester is taken away by Victoria’s finest. Picture: Sky News Source: Supplied
“I think the same for the Prime Minister and Julie Bishop since she was jostled and attacked at the university here in Sydney.
“That’s just part of the process of being in government really when you’re making major reforms and some of the students are taking the opportunity to protest.”
Last month, Mr Abbott and Mr Pyne cancelled a scheduled visit to Deakin University on the back of AFP advice.
Christopher Pyne says he and other Federal Liberal Ministers will be assigned AFP bodyguards when going to events at Universities after recent protests. Courtesy Channel Nine/TODAY
“The advice from the Australian Federal Police was that they were concerned about our safety, but also that they were concerned about the safety of the innocent bystanders who might be impacted upon by the Socialist Alternative,” he told Lateline at the time.
He was later ushered into Sydney University amid tight security for a debating function at St Johns College.
Ex-Minister Sophie Mirabella was also heckled by angry students at a University of Melbourne lecture.
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