Australia election 2022: Scott Morrison rushed from campaign event Solomon Islands diplomat fracas

Dramatic moment Scott Morrison is rushed out of a campaign event flanked by security as ex-diplomat demands to speak to the PM and claims his guards are ‘manhandling him’

  • Scott Morrison was rushed away by security team after confrontation with voter
  • Prime Minister appeared at Ashgrove Cheese Dairy Door cafe in Tasmania
  • Local man named Trevor Sofield attempted to speak to Mr Morrison
  • He was repeatedly blocked by security team before he spoke to reporters
  • Mr Sofield claimed he was Australia’s high commissioner in Solomon Islands
  • He said Mr Morrison had lost his vote over the ‘mishandling’ of South Pacific

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been rushed out of a campaign event in Tasmania by his security detail after being confronted by an angry voter.

The Liberal leader was approached by a local man named Trevor Sofield at the Ashgrove Cheese Dairy Door in the island state’s northern seat of Lyons, who was wishing to express his disappointment at the federal government’s handling of the Solomon Islands.

Mr Sofield, who claims to have worked for the government in the past, repeatedly attempted to speak with Mr Morrison but was ‘manhandled’ by his team, instead turning to the media scrum in attendance and sharing his views. 

Trevor Sofield confronted Scott Morrison at a dairy cafe in Tasmania on Thursday afternoon to express his disappointment at the mismanagement of the Solomon Islands

Mr Morrison was then whisked away by his security team, rushing down into the cafe's carpark and into his private car, flanked by cameras and other local residents

Mr Morrison was then whisked away by his security team, rushing down into the cafe’s carpark and into his private car, flanked by cameras and other local residents

‘I was high commissioner of the Solomon Islands for four years. We have lost the plot in the South Pacific. Given my experience, I know what I’m talking about,’ Mr Sofield told reporters.

‘The Prime Minister’s party has lost my vote. I’m from the electorate of Bass, and because they’ve totally mishandled our strategic interests, our national interests, I’m no longer voting for them.’

Mr Morrison was then whisked away by his security team, rushing down into the cafe’s carpark and into his private car, flanked by cameras and other local residents.

Mr Sofield claims he was 'manhandled' by members of the PM's security detail after trying to 'express his views' on the Solomon Islands

Mr Sofield claims he was ‘manhandled’ by members of the PM’s security detail after trying to ‘express his views’ on the Solomon Islands

'I was high commissioner of the Solomon Islands for four years. We have lost the plot in the South Pacific. Given my experience, I know what I'm talking about,' Mr Sofield said

‘I was high commissioner of the Solomon Islands for four years. We have lost the plot in the South Pacific. Given my experience, I know what I’m talking about,’ Mr Sofield said

Mr Sofield was caught on video attempting to walk through a crowd following the Prime Minister prior to delivering his address, but was repeatedly prevented by a member of Mr Morrison’s team.

‘I beg your pardon, don’t touch me, this is a public space,’ the Tasmanian said as the PM could be seen speaking to workers in the background.

‘I would like to express my views. These minders are terrible.’ 

He eventually gave up and welcomed journalists and camera crews to surround him, before explaining his anger at Mr Morrison’s government. 

‘When I was in foreign affairs, I was one of our initiators of our policy. We have lost the plot,’ he said.

Mr Sofield was a professor at the University of Tasmania for 10 years, working in the facility’s tourism department. 

The university’s website describes him as a ‘retired Australian ambassador’ who completed 90 projects internationally in planning and development for poverty alleviation and protected area management, including in the South Pacific.



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