Australian PM Julia Gillard's charm offensive in Western Australia yesterday started well enough.
Australian PM Julia Gillard's charm offensive in Western Australia yesterday started well enough.
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Upon entering Perth's Hyatt hotel for a breakfast function, she was met with spontaneous applause from the city's business leaders and others who booked a ticket for the standing-room-only event.
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Later, when Ms Gillard was referred to as Australia's first female prime minister, cheers broke out. Her warm reception came to an abrupt halt when she was driven across town to the ABC studios in East Perth for an interview on radio.
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| PM Julia Gillard, Australia's first woman PM |
As she walked into the foyer, a man threw an egg at her from the entrance to an adjoining cafe, less than 2m away. The egg flew pastu00a0 Gillard's right shoulder and hit in the back a police officer assigned to the dignitary protection unit.
Police arrested a 55-year-old man from suburban North Beach and charged him with common assault. The man, owner of a small business, was believed to be protesting against rates of pay.
The PM made light of the attack. "(Foreign Minister) Stephen Smith, who's always quick-witted, has said to me that perhaps a West Australian thought I needed to have some scrambled eggs this morning for breakfast," she said.
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