Protester arrested outside Julie Bishop speech as senior ministers beef up personal security

Updated

A protester who ran at a car transporting Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has been thrown to the ground and arrested by police at Melbourne University.

The 29-year-old Coburg man hit Ms Bishop's moving car with a flag before being tackled to the ground by police, handcuffed, and taken away.

Ms Bishop was leaving the C20 forum, where she had given a speech to a gathering of global leaders from sectors including human rights, social services and the environment.

About 20 activists had earlier tried to storm the building, sending it into lockdown.

Sorry, this video has expired Video: Protesters target Julie Bishop at Melbourne University (ABC News)

As the man who attacked Ms Bishop's car was being restrained by police other protesters began chanting "this is a peaceful protest".

"We're here fighting for our education," the man told reporters after being handcuffed.

As he was escorted away by police, the man said: "This Government is a Government that wants to make universities a two-tiered system: one for the rich and one for the poor."

Victorian Police say they interviewed the man and released him, pending a summons, which means he could still face charges.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says protests have every right to demonstrate but they should never get ugly.

"That shouldn't happen. I don't think it’s a very Australian thing to do to try to prevent someone from speaking, prevent someone from visiting some place where their duty calls them," he said.

"We are a free and democratic society. Australians are free to express a view, they're free to protest."

"They should always do it, we should always do it in a way which is fair, in a way which is respectful and it seems a few people went over the top today."

Mr Abbott confirmed several of his ministers have had extra bodyguards assigned to them in recent weeks.

"That's why very, very occasionally, it's important that there be some security," he said, referring to the protests.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has recently been spotted with security guards but his detail is not thought to be related to the budget.

Speaking in Perth, he refused to be drawn on the reasons.

"I don’t comment on those matters. These are not matters that are routinely discussed," he said.

"We all do the things we have to do in the country's service and we will step up every day and we will never be intimidated one way or the other in doing the job we have to do for the Australian people."

Federal Education Minister Christopher Pyne says police advised him to take security when visiting university campuses, in the wake of what he says was Ms Bishop being "jostled and attacked" at Sydney University.

"Certainly, when I visit university campuses, the Australian Federal Police have made the assessment that it's wise for me to be accompanied by AFP officers," the minister told Channel Nine.

"That's just part of the process of being in Government when you're making major reforms and some of the students are taking the opportunity to protest."

Opposition treasury spokesman Chris Bowen says it is appropriate that ministers have added security where necessary.

"Every minister of course want to be able to move freely around their community but from time to time people in the public eye and ministers do need close personal protection," he said.

"That was the case under the previous government, will be the case under this Government and future governments."

No climate change discussion at G20: Bishop

Speaking to the C20 forum, Ms Bishop indicated climate change was off the table for the upcoming G20 summit in Brisbane in November.

The C20 is a gathering of global leaders from sectors including human rights, social services and the environment, who will make recommendations for the agenda of the G20 summit.

Ms Bishop says the G20 is not the right forum to negotiate issues like climate change, and it would be better to concentrate on energy efficiency and phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.

Ms Bishop said it is essential to keep a strong and focussed economic agenda for the G20 summit.

"And we must prioritise issues where there is a consensus, a consensus within the G20 on taking action," she said.

She said the United Nations framework convention on climate change is the right forum for international climate change negotiations.

"But of course the G20 continues to take practical action to address climate change, for example by promoting energy efficiency and the phasing out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies," she said.

"Energy efficiency is one of the most cost effective ways to reduce emissions and meet rising demand, while supporting growth and development."

Environment groups say climate change is an economic issue

But the World Wildlife Fund has called for climate change to be high on the list, saying it is an economic issue.

"I think it's now a chance for the Australian Government to step up and realise that countries like the US, the Europeans and even the Chinese want climate change on the G20 agenda and to be able to take a leadership role," it's chief Dermot O'Gorman said.

"The forum is the right place to see how the G20 leaders can help tackle climate change. For example, they can discuss the financing road map for how we can do that because between now and Paris 2015, which is the next sort of pivot on taking global action on climate change, there are not that many opportunities for the G20 leaders to get together.

"So if they're not going to sit down in Brisbane at the end of the year, there's an enormous opportunity that is missed."

Dugald Murray, the Australian Conservation Foundation's chief economist, agrees.

"Climate change is one of those diabolical issues that effects all people in all countries. We need our leaders, we need leaders in Australia and the G20 nations to take this issue seriously. Other leaders are taking it incredibly seriously. Australia, by leaving this issue off the agenda, is not taking it as seriously as it should be," he said.

"It's an economic issue that's going to cost our economy and it's going to cost our society heavily if we don't have credible policies in place and that credible level of leadership at the international level with people like president Obama and leaders from other G20 nations."

Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, university-and-further-education, australia

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