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John Howard heckled after accidentally walking into union protest John Howard heckled after accidentally walking into union protest
(35 minutes later)
Malcolm Turnbull has condemned the “thuggish harassment” of former prime minister John Howard by trade union members rallying in Sydney’s CBD.Malcolm Turnbull has condemned the “thuggish harassment” of former prime minister John Howard by trade union members rallying in Sydney’s CBD.
Howard was unhurt despite needing to be “rescued by police” on Thursday after inadvertently coming across a group of angry CFMEU members protesting against cuts to penalty rates.Howard was unhurt despite needing to be “rescued by police” on Thursday after inadvertently coming across a group of angry CFMEU members protesting against cuts to penalty rates.
The 77-year-old former Liberal leader had been attending a conference on Pitt Street when he walked out onto the street to find dozens of people shouting, booing him, holding up CFMEU flags and making profane gestures. The 77-year-old former Liberal leader had been attending a conference on Pitt Street when he walked out on to the street to find dozens of people shouting, booing him, holding up CFMEU flags and making profane gestures.
Footage on social media shows Howard having to walk several hundred metres along the city street, flanked by a number of NSW police, as noisy protesters repeatedly chanted: “The workers, united, will never be defeated”. Footage on social media shows Howard having to walk several hundred metres along the city street, flanked by a number of New South Wales police, as noisy protesters repeatedly chanted: “The workers, united, will never be defeated.”
.@TurnbullMalcolm condemns the 'thuggish' behaviour of the @CFMEU protesters who 'harassed' former PM John Howard: https://t.co/6SL3GIc4cn pic.twitter.com/Z6jIUVT0ka.@TurnbullMalcolm condemns the 'thuggish' behaviour of the @CFMEU protesters who 'harassed' former PM John Howard: https://t.co/6SL3GIc4cn pic.twitter.com/Z6jIUVT0ka
Howard appeared to take the incident in his stride, continuing to walk along the streets until the mob returned to the rally.Howard appeared to take the incident in his stride, continuing to walk along the streets until the mob returned to the rally.
While the former prime minister had initially appeared to be shocked by the reception, NSW police “came to the rescue” to move him away and he was “fine”, his spokesman said.While the former prime minister had initially appeared to be shocked by the reception, NSW police “came to the rescue” to move him away and he was “fine”, his spokesman said.
Turnbull later tweeted: “I condemn CFMEU’s thuggish harassment of John Howard today. A reminder of why ABCC is needed. Bill Shorten should condemn CFMEU as well.”Turnbull later tweeted: “I condemn CFMEU’s thuggish harassment of John Howard today. A reminder of why ABCC is needed. Bill Shorten should condemn CFMEU as well.”
The CFMEU, supported by other unions, held rallies in capital cities on Thursday to protest against what the union says are the federal government’s “attacks on working people”.The CFMEU, supported by other unions, held rallies in capital cities on Thursday to protest against what the union says are the federal government’s “attacks on working people”.
John Howard wasn't rattled despite needing to be "rescued by police" from union protesters in Sydney's CBD. #9Newshttps://t.co/dMEZ4h2mhL pic.twitter.com/U3k1dyvZ8QJohn Howard wasn't rattled despite needing to be "rescued by police" from union protesters in Sydney's CBD. #9Newshttps://t.co/dMEZ4h2mhL pic.twitter.com/U3k1dyvZ8Q
ACTU president Ged Kearney, who didn’t see the incident but heard about it, said “there is a lot of anger against John Howard because of WorkChoices”, referring to the Howard government’s flagship industrial relations policy, introduced in 2006. The ACTU president, Ged Kearney, who didn’t see the incident but heard about it, said “there is a lot of anger against John Howard because of WorkChoices”, referring to the Howard government’s flagship industrial relations policy, introduced in 2006.
“It’s the sort of feeling – you’ve got Work Choices Mark II with this [Turnbull] government,” she said on Thursday. “The good thing about today was that thousands and thousands of workers turned out to stand together.”“It’s the sort of feeling – you’ve got Work Choices Mark II with this [Turnbull] government,” she said on Thursday. “The good thing about today was that thousands and thousands of workers turned out to stand together.”
The CMEU issued a statement arguing Howard “walked into the Sydney rally”.The CMEU issued a statement arguing Howard “walked into the Sydney rally”.
“The rally was peaceful but loud,” the union said. “From the footage we have seen, it appears some protesters made their views known to Mr Howard about anti-worker laws he introduced while prime minister, as a result of which he lost an election and his seat.”“The rally was peaceful but loud,” the union said. “From the footage we have seen, it appears some protesters made their views known to Mr Howard about anti-worker laws he introduced while prime minister, as a result of which he lost an election and his seat.”