A Keilor taxi driver at the centre of a scuffle with embattled state MP Geoff Shaw alleges Mr Shaw sparked the confrontation by calling him “taxi driver mongrel scum”.
Police are investigating the incident which left John Zammit, 74, bruised and bleeding after clashing with the controversial Frankston MP on the steps of Parliament last Tuesday.
The chaotic scenes began when Mr Shaw arrived at Parliament just before 2pm and was confronted by a group of taxi licence-holders protesting against recent government changes to taxi laws.
Mr Zammit was there representing the Victorian Taxi Families Group, a movement established in Avondale Heights earlier this year to represent the licence-holders in the western suburbs and campaign against the state government’s radical taxi reforms.
Mr Zammit jumped in front of Mr Shaw and was thrown to the ground by the MP.
Amateur video footage shows other protesters running up the steps and becoming embroiled in the scuffle. Witnesses said they saw Mr Shaw swing his briefcase at protesters and kick backwards at a man on the ground.
“We were just having a quiet moment in the afternoon during our peaceful protest,” Mr Zammit said. “Then Mr Geoff Shaw walked up the stairs. He was smirking at us . . . he started verbally provoking us and he called me ‘taxi driver mongrel scum’.
“He kept pushing us out of the way and was calling us names. The next thing I know he swung his suitcase at me in the face and he was kicking me like a bull kicks a cow while I lay on the ground.”
Mr Zammit admitted calling Mr Shaw a “criminal”.
“I admit that was provocative, but he didn’t have to hit me,” he said. “I want charges laid against him.”
CCTV footage at the Parliament shows Mr Shaw being manhandled and mobbed by protesters before the scuffle.
It shows Mr Zammit grabbing him on the arm at the bottom of the stairs.
In response to Mr Zammit’s claims, Mr Shaw said he would make no further comment. But in an earlier statement on the scuffle, he said someone grabbed his ankle and he was attacked.
“As I entered the building I was initially heckled, yelled at, spat upon and hit by a large group of protesters,” the statement said. “I was forced to push a protester from me and I continued up the stairs to the entrance of Parliament House. Another protester grabbed my ankles. I shook him or her off and continued up the stairs.’’
Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay said the incident would be treated the same as any other criminal investigation and police were looking at the footage.
– with The Age
