on 18-05-2014 11:27 AM
PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has branded the students at his former university “revolting”.
Speaking at a Liberal Party fundraiser in Melbourne on Friday night, a tongue-in-cheek Mr Abbott said: “I always thought the students were revolting at my old university.”
His quip comes after Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop was mobbed at the University of Sydney before she announced an extra 1000 placements for overseas study trips under new government funding.
Mr Abbott, joined by Environment Minister Greg Hunt and Small Business Minister Bruce Billson, told the audience at Mornington Race Club that there would be more protests.
“This is but a foretaste of what is to come,” he said.
“But we must stay the course because if we are deterred, the future of our country is grim.”
Mr Abbott defended his pre-election promises saying he was determined to make hard calls.
“I don’t know if this government is going to be popular, but by God it’s going to be respected,” he said.
University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor Dr Michael Spence said the comment was made in jest.
“We believe that the Prime Minister was making a joke and appreciate that he is demonstrating the same good humour that the Foreign Minister showed on Friday,” he said.
He said students had a right to protest but not to use violence.
Yesterday Education Minister Christopher Pyne called for the students to be charged with assault.
He also called on Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to join the Government in condemning the “incomprehensible” behaviour of the students, who were protesting proposed cuts to higher education funding.
“Everyone is entitled to have a view — whether they like the Government, whether they don’t like the Government; whether they like or dislike particular policies,” Mr Pyne said.
“But the behaviour of the students yesterday at Sydney University was assault.”
“Everyone is entitled to have a view — whether they like the Government, whether they don’t like the Government; whether they like or dislike particular policies,” Mr Pyne said.
“But the behaviour of the students yesterday at Sydney University was assault.”
totally agree with these comments by Mr Pyne. I'm certainly not happy that my taxes foster this sort of behaviour by certain groups of students.
on 19-05-2014 12:38 AM
It says a lot when we should have the most politically unified country at the moment given that the majority of state leaders are Liberals and yet, they are vocal against their own federal leader.
on 19-05-2014 12:57 AM
I reckon this whole thing has been an orchestrated act.So that all these political mobsters and fraudsters, Feds and State, can turn around, straight faced down the track, look into the tv cameras and spout .....but we tried....we did everything we possibly could to stop Tones.....we did!!! But we could not get him to change his mind *sniff.
on 19-05-2014 01:11 AM
on 19-05-2014 01:19 AM
on 19-05-2014 09:32 AM
It was reported yesterday morning that Tony Abbott backtracked on calling a double-dissolution
Prime Minister Tony Abbott stands down on double-dissolution election
PIA AKERMAN
He apparently didn't see any need for the Emergency meeting either ?
Is the man serious ? He plans to starve Australians and set that in a Government policy and he doesn't think there is any emergency ?
19-05-2014 09:39 AM - edited 19-05-2014 09:42 AM
@freddie*rooster wrote:What about the sandwich tossing incident, Gillard "said she was treating the sandwich incident as a laughing matter" I think Chrissy was upset because Julie got her new hair do messed up.
Chrissy was trying to tell Australia that Australia's children don't like Julia Gillard ..as if a tossed sandwich shows that ! lol
He has trouble accepting the fact that Australians don't like what he and his Government are doing to us,our youth and our environment,with our money and our economy and/or to Asylum seekers...and with very good reason.
Nothing needs to be confected now.Even state/territory Premiers aren't impressed...including their own
on 19-05-2014 12:51 PM
And to think they used to call Rudd arrogant....
on 19-05-2014 12:57 PM
yes and I'm pretty sure that they still would
on 19-05-2014 01:00 PM
on 19-05-2014 01:44 PM
800 000+ domestic students enrolled in Australian Universities. There is a lot of votes there.