A woman is in custody for allegedly assaulting former Victorian emergency services minister Jane Garrett by reportedly grabbing her hair and trying to push her head through a plate glass window.
Garrett, who resigned from the frontbench of the Andrews government over the Country Fire Authority dispute, told the ABC she believed the alleged attack was connected to her work as a politician.
She said the woman “screamed abuse” at her, before she “grabbed me by the head, shoved me, grabbed me by the head a couple of times”.
The 43-year-old sustained minor injuries in the alleged attack, which she described as “very aggressive, and it was terrifying”.
“I’m certainly sore today around the neck and the back,” she said.
It happened about 4.15pm on Monday, she said, when Garrett was walking along Drummond Street in Carlton, near the intersection with Elgin Street.
“I was heading to meet somebody — it was work-related — and I had my runners on and the headphones on, and it was a beautiful, beautiful day,” Garrett told the ABC.
“This obviously shattered my sense of peace and shattered my sense of security, it was really horrifying.”
She thanked police and the community for their support.
Thanks so very much to everyone who has reached out to me and my family during this ordeal. Your support means a lot to us.
— Jane Garrett (@Jane_GarrettMP) August 15, 2016
A spokesman for Victoria Police said police were still investigating the incident and a 52-year-old Coburg woman was under police guard at hospital.
The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, told reporters he had spoken to Garrett on Monday night following the “shocking and nasty incident” and would call her again on Tuesday morning.
“I’ve made it clear our thoughts are with her,” he said.
“It’s a terrible thing that’s happened to her and if there is anything we can do to help her, we stand ready to do that.”
Andrews said he did not want to see MPs forced to restrict their movements.
“The fact you can go down to the local shops, the fact you can be part of the community you lead and work for, that’s a precious thing and I wouldn’t want to see that changed,” he said.
But the premier admitted Monday’s “nasty incident” was a reminder that politicians had to be vigilant.
“I’m sure the [parliament’s] Speaker and president will also look at these sorts of issues,” Andrews said.
Victorian politicians condemned the alleged assault on Twitter.
Just heard the terrible news that @Jane_GarrettMP has been assaulted in Carlton. Hope she is okay. My thoughts are with her + her family.
— Ellen Sandell (@ellensandell) August 15, 2016
Never excuse violence, physical, verbal or any other. Not against anyone, including people in public eye. All the best @Jane_GarrettMP
— Steve Dimopoulos MP (@Steve_Dimo) August 15, 2016
