A 38-year-old Hobart man who assaulted former Prime Minister Tony Abbott in broad daylight last year has pleaded guilty to the offence.
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Astro Labe spotted Mr Abbott in Salamanca on September 21 while he was down to campaign for a ‘no’ vote on the recent same-sex marriage plebiscite.
Labe was drinking at a pub and remarked to friends that he wanted to headbutt him.
He made the decision to do when he saw Mr Abbott for a second time at 4:30pm and followed him for 250 metres along Morrison Street.
Labe called out to Mr Abbott asking to shake his hand which resulted in a deliberate headbutt.
Hobart Magistrates Court on Thursday heard that Labe said after the attack: “You f—king deserved it … for everything you’ve f—cking done.”
The original charge of common assault was upgraded before Labe’s first court appearance to causing harm to a Commonwealth public official.
That offence carries a sentence of up to two years’ jail if heard within a Tasmanian Magistrates Court.
The prosecution referred to media interviews after the event to support its case that the attack was planned and opportunistic.
Prosector Jody Nunn said while Labe’s early guilty plea had shown a degree of contrition, this had not been reflected in public comments and his police interview in which he described the incident as “amusing”.
He had also told police he had been drinking Guinness since 11am and that he rated his intoxication as six out of 10.
Defence lawyer Craig Mackie said sentencing for the offence should have a primary focus on the harm caused which was minimal and did not require medical attention.
“He is not a person with a violent disposition and has never assaulted anyone before,” he said.
Mr Mackie submitted seven written character references to the court, written by people of diverse professional backgrounds, including one from a retired public servant and another from former Holyoake chief executive Kim Churchill.
He said Labe had made admissions of guilt to the public through the media a day after the event and this should be considered in sentencing.
The matter was adjourned for sentencing on March 22 at 2:15pm.