PM egg protester fined in Perth

On the day Prime Minister Julia Gillard paid a flying visit to Perth, across town a
man pleaded guilty to common assault after hurling an egg at her.
Perth man, Enrico Robert Von Felten, was waiting in the cafe at the ABC studios on
July 9 with an egg concealed under his clothing.
Von Felten had heard the previous day that Ms Gillard would be at the studios to be
interviewed by morning presenter Geoff Hutchison.
The Perth Magistrates Court was told on Wednesday Von Felten intended to make a
public protest against Ms Gillard's small business policies.
As the prime minister walked into the studios, the 55-year-old threw the egg but
missed and hit an escorting police officer on the back.
Magistrate Kevin Tavener read a statement from Von Felten in which he said "he was
attempting to throw the egg at the wall but circumstances changed and it then got
thrown at a person".
The prosecutor told the court Von Felten's grievance was that Ms Gillard's small
business policies would damage his business.
"He intended to make a public protest of these policies by throwing an egg and
getting media attention for his cause."
The court was told Von Felten extended his apologies to the police officer who was hit.
He was fined $1,200 plus court costs and a $23 dry cleaning bill for the officer's
jacket.
Ms Gillard, who visited marginal electorates in Perth on Wednesday, made light of
the incident at the time saying she had apologised to the female officer.
"I did see something fly past and I have met the lady who was coming in who ended up
with the egg, on the back of her raincoat fortunately, so she'll be able to wipe it
off," the prime minister told ABC Radio.
"I did apologise to her because I don't think someone was throwing the egg at her,
but she ended up copping the egg."
Ms Gillard later told reporters Foreign Minister Stephen Smith had said "perhaps a
West Australian thought I needed to have some scrambled eggs this morning for
breakfast".
That might have been one motivation, she joked.



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