FED:Protesters tail Abbott on trail

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2010
FED:Protesters tail Abbott on trail

NAROOMA, NSW, Aug 17 AAP - Rowdy protesters have greeted Tony Abbott as the opposition
leader hit the campaign trail on the NSW south coast on Tuesday.

Mr Abbott was in Narooma, in the marginal seat of Eden-Monaro, late on Tuesday afternoon,
to talk with locals about the coalition's plans to open up marine parks.

But an idyllic walk by the pier was gate-crashed by a group of vocal environmentalists,
who tailed Mr Abbott throughout his long meet-and-greet.

Mr Abbott also struggled to be heard during his press conference, as the protesters
continued to shout out, prompting clashes with coalition supporters.

"Climate, forests, marine parks," they yelled, which was met with calls for them to
"shut up" and to "have some respect".

"We're a fishing town, we just want to fish," one man said.

Moments earlier, Mr Abbott's security officers had to intervene when a koala suit-clad
protester offered the opposition leader a plate of fish and "woodchips".

Some of the protesters want the coalition to close down the Eden woodchip mill.

Mr Abbott plans to scrap the marine parks process if the coalition wins government
on Saturday, opening the door for widespread fishing.

Amid the protest, he defended the move, saying the fishing community depended on the
sea and would therefore protect it.

AAP cj/sb/was/dep

KEYWORD: POLL10 ABBOTT PROTEST (VIDEO AVAILABLE)

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