Joyce shouted down by protesters

By Ben Langford
Updated November 6 2012 - 2:11am, first published July 13 2011 - 5:16am
South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris bails up Barnaby Joyce in Crown St Mall.
South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris bails up Barnaby Joyce in Crown St Mall.

ANGRY scenes were sparked in the Crown St Mall today when an attempted rally by Coalition firebrands Barnaby Joyce and Concetta Fierravanti-Wells was outnumbered by anti-Coalition protesters and Greens activists supporting the carbon price.As hecklers with placards came up against two of the Coalition’s least predictable figures, a quiet lunchtime became an old-fashioned political theatre, with few of the players lacking the voice to make themselves heard.Before the visitors even made it to the stage they were bailed up by South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris, who told Sen Joyce he should face steelworkers at Port Kembla and tell them why he won’t back the $300million steel industry assistance plan. Once they took the stage Senator Joyce, a Queenslander, and Sen Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, from Wollongong, were drowned out by hecklers telling them to go home.Sen Fierravanti-Wells gave it back to the crowd, shouting at them ‘‘you should be ashamed of yourselves’’ and telling unionists to oppose the tax.Sen Joyce had asked supporters to bring placards to the rally but the handful of Coalition posters, and about 30 supporters, were no match for almost double that against him.He said the carbon tax meant Julia Gillard’s Government would the there charging people at every stage of the day.‘‘You put on the kettle, she’s in the cup of tea with you,’’ he said.‘‘You turn on the electric blanket, she’s back there with you as well.’’Sen Joyce said the Illawarra could stop the carbon tax if local Labor members Stephen Jones and Sharon Bird crossed the floor and voted against it.FULL STORY TOMORROW'S MERCURY

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

$0/

(min cost $0)

or signup to continue reading

See subscription options

Get the latest Wollongong news in your inbox

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date.

We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy.