AFP Police at a protest the day after Survival Day.
NATIONAL: Federal Attorney-General Nicola Roxon has accused the coalition of excusing the protesters who surrounded a Canberra restaurant on Survival Day.
Coalition legal affairs spokesman George Brandis has written to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) asking it to investigate what led up to a protest by Aboriginal Tent Embassy supporters which resulted in Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott being rushed from a Canberra restaurant.
AFP Commissioner Tony Negus says the matter had been referred to the crimes operations special references portfolio for evaluation.
Ms Roxon said the Coalition was turning the police investigation into a political football.
“We shouldn’t let the Liberal Party excuse the actions that were taken by a number of people that were violent and intimidating towards the prime minister and the leader of the opposition,” Ms Roxon told ABC television on Monday.
“Now if Mr Brandis and the Liberal Party have a political fight with the government, that’s fine. Let’s argue the toss.
“But I don’t think it’s appropriate to try to compromise what the police are doing.”
Ms Roxon said it was important that those who were responsible for the incident were accountable.
“We have to be clear that anyone who is responsible for participating in violent activity has to be the people that undertake that violent activity or those who are … inciting.
“We can’t excuse … the violent action by trying to look at the political issues that are now unfolding and I think we need to be clear where the focus is.”
The government would cooperate with any police inquiry, she said.
AAP
Libs excusing Survival Day protesters: Roxon
AFP Police at a protest the day after Survival Day.
NATIONAL: Federal Attorney-General Nicola Roxon has accused the coalition of excusing the protesters who surrounded a Canberra restaurant on Survival Day.
Coalition legal affairs spokesman George Brandis has written to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) asking it to investigate what led up to a protest by Aboriginal Tent Embassy supporters which resulted in Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott being rushed from a Canberra restaurant.
AFP Commissioner Tony Negus says the matter had been referred to the crimes operations special references portfolio for evaluation.
Ms Roxon said the Coalition was turning the police investigation into a political football.
“We shouldn’t let the Liberal Party excuse the actions that were taken by a number of people that were violent and intimidating towards the prime minister and the leader of the opposition,” Ms Roxon told ABC television on Monday.
“Now if Mr Brandis and the Liberal Party have a political fight with the government, that’s fine. Let’s argue the toss.
“But I don’t think it’s appropriate to try to compromise what the police are doing.”
Ms Roxon said it was important that those who were responsible for the incident were accountable.
“We have to be clear that anyone who is responsible for participating in violent activity has to be the people that undertake that violent activity or those who are … inciting.
“We can’t excuse … the violent action by trying to look at the political issues that are now unfolding and I think we need to be clear where the focus is.”
The government would cooperate with any police inquiry, she said.
AAP
Leave a comment