news, local-news, Craig Kelly, dinosaur, Sutherland station, punch threat, climate change

Updated Police have sought CCTV images after a climate change action campaigner dressed in a dinosaur suit with the name Craig Kelly Denialosaur claimed the federal MP threatened to punch him. Mr Kelly denied making the threat, saying, "I told him to rack off and not sneak up behind me". A police spokesperson said officers from Sutherland Police Area Command were "investigating after a report was made regarding an altercation near Sutherland Railway Station" on Wednesday morning. "There have been no reports of injury. Inquiries continue," the statement said. The Liberal MP for Hughes, who is strongly conservative on climate change policy, said police called him about the matter and he told them what happened and that CCTV footage would support his version of events. The incident occurred about 7am today (Wednesday) on the walkway from the commuter car park to the station, opposite Mr Kelly's electorate office in East Parade. Peter Thompson, of Miranda, who was wearing the suit, later made a written statement at Miranda Police Station, alleging verbal assault and intimidation by Mr Kelly. Another activist, who witnessed the incident but who did not wish to have his name published, also made a statement and accompanied police to the train station to point out the exact location. Mr Thompson said he had just put on his dinosaur suit when he saw the other activist talking to Mr Kelly. "I waddled up from behind, intending to be friendly and to say, 'No hard feelings, it's just the political rough and tumble',' Mr Thompson said. "Craig Kelly swivelled around, raised a clenched fist and said, 'f... off. If you come up behind me like that again, I am going to punch you out'. "I backed off because I felt vulnerable in the dinosaur suit and because of Craig Kelly's threatening manner." Mr Thompson said he was not representing any political party at the time, although he was a member of the Greens. Mr Kelly said, "These guys have to be careful about wasting valuable police time when they were in the wrong". "Making false statements is an offence," he said. Mr Kelly said that when he saw a man getting dressed in a dinosaur suit about 10 to 15 metres away, he said to his companion, 'thanks for the promotion". "While we were talking, I felt something brushing right up against me from behind. "I reacted the same way anyone else would in the same situation. "I turned around and said, 'rack off, don't sneak up behind me' He was invading my personal space." Asked if he threatened violence, Mr Kelly said, "Absolutely not". "Anyone who knows me knows I have never used threatening language," he said. In December, 2018, Mr Kelly made an expletive-laden verbal attack in public on Sutherland Shire mayor Carmelo Pesce when he refused to shake hands during high tensions over Liberal Party preselection for Hughes. Mr Kelly refused to comment at the time but said on Wednesday, "I never threatened Carmelo Pesce, it was a verbal exchange". RELATED Craig Kelly's expletive-laden rant exposes depth of Liberal Party tensions

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Updated | MP Craig Kelly denies threatening to punch climate change action campaigner in dinosaur suit Murray Trembath