POLICE have caught the man who allegedly attacked former PM Tony Abbott.

Less than a day after the attack Tasmanian police located the man who Mr Abbott claims headbutted him after asking to shake his hand.

A 38-year old North Hobart man was charged with one count of common assault after a speedy police investigation.

Labe was granted conditional bail and will appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court at 9.30am on October 23.

media_camera Shaken... Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott speaks to media today. Picture: Luke Bowden

A Tasmanian police spokesman said: “We will not get involved in any political matters of ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

“This is an assault that occurred on our streets.

“We’ll deal with it as the evidence presents us, and we’ll be guided by the evidence. We won’t be getting into the issues of motivation behind violence on our streets.”

Mr Abbott has called for calm in the same sex debate while admitting he was shocked after being allegedly headbutted by a gay marriage activist.

As police began a hunt for the burly, tattooed activist who attacked him after asking to shake his hand, Mr Abbott said: “It is a shock to have a fellow Australian seeking to shake your hand turn a handshake into an assault.

“Normally a handshake is a sign of trust and peace, it is a sign of two people wanting to deal openly and courteously with each other, but this handshake turned into a headbutt.

media_camera Police arrive at the hotel where Tony Abbott was staying in Hobart. Picture: Luke Bowden

“I think it’s sad that this debate has come to that and my plea to everyone in the remaining weeks of this debate is to keep it courteous, keep it respectful, but above all else, respect the values, the institutions that have shaped us since the beginning of our journey and which I think should continue to shape us as we move forward as one cohesive country.”

Mr Abbott said last night’s “politically motivated violence” exposed how the “ugliness” of the postal plebiscite debate was coming from the Yes campaign. The assailant headbutted the former Liberals leader in a Hobart street, leaving him with a busted lip.

The unknown man — who was wearing a “Yes” badge — confronted Mr Abbott as he left the office of The Mercury newspaper.

He said the assault was more evidence of politically-correct activists trying to shut down dissenting opinions.

“There is no doubt that there has been some ugliness as part of this debate, but I regret to say that nearly all of it seems to be coming from one side and that is the people who tell us that love is love,” he said.

“Now, it is a pretty sorry story that that is where Australia is and this is one of the many reasons I say we should think long and hard before going down this path.

“All of us want to be decent and kind and caring and loving to our gay friends and family, but that doesn’t mean that we have to agree with the activists and change a definition of marriage which has stood since time immemorial and from which so much else flows, because it is marriage which gives us families, it is families which give us communities, it is communities which are the building blocks of our nation.

media_camera Former PM Tony Abbott speaks to media outside the Henry Jones Hotel on Hobart's waterfront today.

“You change the definition of marriage and you just don’t know what else comes in its wake.”

Mr Abbott has vowed to continue speaking out for his beliefs and said he would not be seeking extra protection.

“I think it is a great thing that Australian politicians mix freely with the people,” he said.

Mr Abbott said last night’s “politically motivated violence” exposed how the “ugliness” of the postal plebiscite debate was coming from the Yes campaign. The assailant headbutted the former Liberals leader in a Hobart street, leaving him with a busted lip.

The unknown man — who was wearing a “Yes” badge — confronted Mr Abbott as he left the office of The Mercury newspaper.

media_camera Tony Abbott in Hobart moments before heatbutt

Malcolm Turnbull put aside political differences to defend long-time rival today. “One incident like this is one too many and it must be condemned,” he said.

The unknown man — who was wearing a “Yes” badge — confronted Mr Abbott as he left the office of The Mercury newspaper.

“A fellow sung out to me, ‘Hey, Tony’, I turned around, there was a chap wearing a Vote Yes badge,” Mr Abbott, who is helping lead the same-sex marriage No campaign, told 2GB.

“He says ‘I wanna shake your hand’.

“I went over to shake his hand and he headbutted me. He wasn’t very good at it, but he did make contact, but the only damage was a very slightly swollen lip.

media_camera The attack left Mr Abbott with a busted lip. Picture: AAP media_camera Former prime minister Tony Abbott was assaulted by a same-sex marriage activist in Hobart. Picture: AAP

“It was very disconcerting to find ... someone who under the guise of wanting to shake your hand, gives you a so-called Liverpool kiss.”

r Abbott didn’t fight back, but his media adviser grappled with the attacker — who then yelled abuse at Mr Abbott for supporting the No case for the postal plebiscite immediately after striking the ex-PM.

Mr Abbott made a formal complaint about the violence after he was contacted by Tasmania Police overnight.

media_camera Mr Abbott earlier in the day with Tasmania Irrigation. Picture: Facebook

M

Officers are on the hunt for the assailant and have urged anyone who witnessed the assault, which occurred about 4.35pm on the footpath of Morrison Street, opposite Customs Hotel, to come forward.

“Police would particularly like to hear from the other man who was allegedly involved in

the incident and have urged him to come forward and contact police.”

Piers Akerman: You have to vote no or the same-sex bullies will destroy our culture

media_camera Tony Abbott meets with anti-same sex marriage campaigners while visiting Hobart. Facebook: Tony Abbott

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Treasurer Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten all said they called Mr Abbott after the ambush.

“This is terrible — violence like this is never acceptable. I’m glad Mr Abbott isn’t seriously injured and I’ve rung him to say so,” Mr Shorten, who is campaigning to change the Marriage Act, tweeted.

media_camera Opposition Leader Bill Shorten also reached out after the dust up. Picture: AAP media_camera Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called his former leader after hearing the news.

This is terrible - violence like this is never acceptable. I'm glad Mr Abbott isn't seriously injured and I've rung him to say so. https://t.co/FkSOUhObgZ — Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) September 21, 2017

Mr Abbott said the incident was “a reminder of how ugly this debate is getting”.

“The ugliness is not coming from the defenders of marriage as it’s always been understood,” he said.

“The ‘love is love’ brigade aren’t showing a lot of love.

“The point I’ve been making, if you don’t like being pushed around by activists, vote no.

“If you don’t like political correctness, vote no.”

media_camera Independent State MP Alex Greenwich (centre) condemned the attack. Picture: AAP

Equality Campaign leader Alex Greenwich last night slammed the violence.

“There is never a place for violence or abuse,” he said.

There is absolutely no place for violence in the marriage equality debate. This is about treating people fairly and with respect & dignity. — Alex Greenwich MP (@AlexGreenwich) September 21, 2017

Ours is a campaign of hope, respect and unity. Our actions should reflect that.



Violence is never acceptable. — Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) September 21, 2017

Tony Abbott speaks to 3AW over the headbutting incident Tony Abbott speaks to 3AW over the headbutting incident

“Marriage Equality is about respect and dignity for every Australian.

“There is no room for any disrespect either physical or verbal in this national debate.”

Mr Abbott said he had previously been assaulted just once in public life — at a psychiatric ward by a patient when he had been health minister in 2007.

READ MORE: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO THE GAY MARRIAGE DEBATE

media_camera The postal survey has sparked an outpouring of vitriol from both sides of the debate. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.

Sky News presenter and Daily Telegraph columnist Andrew Bolt broke the story of the assault on his program last night.

“Abbott is a politician who can’t say no, can’t be rude ... this guy was big, tats, all this kind of stuff,” he said.

“The Yes badge suggested he wasn’t really a supporter (of Mr Abbott) but what can you do?

“He offers his hand, the man headbutts him in the face, goes off swearing, abusing him, saying he deserved it.”