Tony Abbott saved by Julia Gillard and her security team

Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott were attending an awards ceremony at a Canberra restaurant, when protesters turned up to shout "racist" and "shame" at Tony Abbott for some comments that he had made earlier in the day.

Instead of going out to talk to the protesters - something he has said Gillard should do with the carbon tax protesters - Tony Abbott remained indoors.

When advised by her security team that the situation was no longer safe, Julia Gillard requested that Tony Abbott also be protected and removed from the situation.

Security (to Gillard): We feel that the situation is deteriorating and can't stay too much longer.

Gillard: OK, all right. OK. What about Mr Abbott? Where have you got him? We'd better help him through too, hadn't we?

Security: Yeah, sure.

Abbott (to Gillard): I think it would be very easy for that glass to be smashed. So would they like us to go straight away?

Gillard: They'll let us know. We'll just pull together...

Abbott: Sure, OK. [Raises eyebrows - not sure if this is because he knows the situation is bad, or whether it's because he needs to be rescued by Julia Gillard.]

Gillard: No problems.

Source: 9 News (January 26, 2012)

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• tony
• abbott
• saved
• by
• julia
• gillard
• and
• her
• security
• team

[ElTronW]

To bad it was staged,

[phonytonyabbott]

@ElTronW:

The media has ignored a lot of what ACTUALLY happened.

The protesters already knew what Abbott had said that morning (and the context in which he'd said it), 2UE had already reported what they interpreted Abbott's comments to be, as did the Courier-Mail and SkyNews.

The Tent Embassy is a matter of metres away from the Lobby Restaurant - they already knew that Abbott was there, as stated by Barbara Shaw.

Hodges should not have done what he did - but it would have happened anyway.

[blackeagle923]

TONY ABBOTT DESERVED TO BE KICKED by ABORIGENEEEEESSSS

[phonytonyabbott]

@blackeagle923 - I strongly dislike Tony Abbott, but I'm not sure if he deserves to be kicked by anyone.

[Verity12ful]

Abbott might have sparked it but all the embarrassing pics come of Gillard falling over and shitting herself, least Abbott made it to the car fine

[phonytonyabbott]

@Verity12ful - she was being dragged by her security and being pushed along by Abbott.

What did you expect?

Abbott himself looked like he was crapping his pants.

[TL1ER]

'I'm foiine, I'm foine..' sounds like a bogan more than an Prime Minister.

[sparhawk271]

That wasnt a protest that was a bloody disgrace....dont care if the issue was the tent embassy or issues that I actually care about eg foriegn policy it wouldnt matter that was a mob and the police and security at that point should do what is required to ensure the safety of our political leaders.....doesnt matter that I dont like either of them.....

[phonytonyabbott]

@Verity12ful - you might have to check his pants to find out for sure.

[phonytonyabbott]

@Schnappi1936 - yep, he was running scared alright. There's another picture of him with his fist pushing into Gillard's back as she's going down some stairs. It really looks as though he's trying to get past her (or push her over).