Geoff Shaw no time for taxi drivers

[cherples]

except to punch and push them down stairs, it would seem.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/geoff-shaw-reportedly-punches-taxi-protester-20131015-2vk43.html

Beleaguered state MP Geoff Shaw has reportedly struck a taxi protester on the steps of State Parliament.

Witnesses said that Mr Shaw threw an elderly gentleman - aged about 80 years old - down the steps of parliament and began throwing punches.

"We had a bit of a protest here in regards to the taxi licenses," said a son of a taxi driver, Louie Karkatzoulis.

"About 20 minutes ago, Mr Shaw was just walking from the far west over there towards the parliament," he said.

"A few of the older generation (taxi drivers) went around him in protest during his walk to parliament.

"We have some video footage of Mr Shaw physically pushing a man down and swinging his arms around him causing physical damage towards their faces."

[**meep**]

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@cherples wrote:

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@**meep** wrote:

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@***super_nova*** wrote:

Politician (or any other public figure) should never push or punch member of public who is trying to stop them to talk to them.  And to push down steep steps 80y.o. is just beyond pale.

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Is this an acceptable way of stopping someone to talk to them?

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/new-cctv-released-of-clash-between-geoff-shaw-and-protesters-20131...

New CCTV from State Parliament shows independent MP Geoff Shaw was manhandled and mobbed by protesters well before a scuffle on the steps of Parliament House on Tuesday.

Vision from a camera across from Parliament House shows Mr Shaw being grabbed by taxi driver John Zammit, the injured man, at the bottom of the stairs.

He is surrounded by half a dozen protesters, some who grab him.

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Doesn't it make you wonder why he refuses to speak with these people?

Makes you wonder what he's done to cause the level of distress amongst old taxi drivers and why he refuses to give them a minute of his time.

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well, no.  I'm mainly on this thread to discuss what actually happened as opposed to what it "seemed" like.

[twinkles**stars]

News just on says there is better clearer footage and in fact it was Mr Shaw that was grabbed by his arm and the drivers that harassed him, not the other way around.

[**meep**]

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@twinkles**stars wrote:

News just on says there is better clearer footage and in fact it was Mr Shaw that was grabbed by his arm and the drivers that harassed him, not the other way around.

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yep, that footage is in the link i posted.

[twinkles**stars]

Sorry meep was in a hurry and hadn't read back 🙂

[azureline**]

Interesting to see what happened prior, to what the media was showing us this morning?

[**meep**]

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@twinkles**stars wrote:

Sorry meep was in a hurry and hadn't read back 🙂

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no probs.  i do that all the time

[the_bob_delusion]

the new footage shows his action was more than justified.

[lakeland27]

as an elected rep sometimes you have to listen, shaw is abrasive and abusive toward people who sit on the other side. it isn't hard to imagine the tone he used with the drivers . if an old bloke tugs on my arm like that i don't punch him in the head.  pressure reveals the true character eh ?

[azureline**]

LL, he did not punch him in the head.

[twinkles**stars]

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@lakeland27 wrote:

as an elected rep sometimes you have to listen, shaw is abrasive and abusive toward people who sit on the other side. it isn't hard to imagine the tone he used with the drivers . if an old bloke tugs on my arm like that i don't punch him in the head.  pressure reveals the true character eh ?

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Punched in the head? Where and by whom? The 74 year old taxi driver literally sprinted up those steps and pushed himself in front of Mr Shaw. A very fit older man indeed....now claiming he's injured and has high blood pressure *sigh*