By BEN CAMERON
GEMBROOK MP Brad Battin has defended East West Link protestors’ right to protest despite his wife being “pushed and shoved” outside a Liberal Party event in the city last Thursday night.
Mr Battin said his wife had been accosted by four men while trying to enter the event at the Regent Theatre just around 6.30pm despite police escorts.
He said he had been several metres away from his wife when she was manhandled.
“It was a violent act,” he said.
“They were using intimidatory tactics. She was pushed and shoved.
“She can’t recall what was said but it was yelling and abuse. My mother-in-law was behind us and she said they were swearing.”
Mr Battin has vowed to not be swayed by violent protestors.
“I’ll never use the back door for an event. I have every right to enter the front door, just like they have the right to protest,” he said.
“But if you’re going to protest, do it creatively. People should never be touched. Police were also pushed.
“I’m reluctant to have her at these kinds of events (now). I won’t back down in what I believe in.”
Mr Batting hit out on social media last Thursday night tweeting: “Disgraceful behavior #EWLink protesters who thought it OK to push my wife”.
“Shame, you are free to protest as I am free to support the Link”.
One Melbourne journalists tweeted last Friday morning that his wife was “intimidated and in tears after she was cornered by EWL protestors”.
However two people who claim they were at the event disputed the incident on Twitter.
“I regret if it was an unpleasant experience for your wife but where I stood in the line no guests were pushed the entire time”.
“From my position, it was more likely that police pushed people onto her. Always makes for colourful headlines”.
