MP’s daughter is attacked in the street and hospitalised after he received death threats for supporting Daniel Andrews’ controversial pandemic laws
A Victorian MP’s daughter was rushed to hospital with head injuries after being attacked in the street with a spray can.
Animal Justice MP Andy Meddick said his daughter was attacked in Melbourne on Thursday night because he supports Daniel Andrews’ controversial proposed laws to manage pandemics.
Kielan Meddick, who is transgender, posted on Instagram that she had been chased down and attacked by a man for being ‘political’ on Smith Street in Fitzroy.
Animal Justice MP Andy Meddick (pictured) said his daughter was attacked because he supports Daniel Andrews’ controversial proposed laws to manage pandemics
‘I called for help and he threw a spray can at my head. I started bleeding a lot,’ she said.
Ms Meddick ran into a bar where staff treated her wounds before she was taken to hospital.
She said she has a three-centimetre gash on her head, which required stitches and glue.
‘I’m home safe now, thank you so much for all the support,’ Ms Meddick said.
Mr Meddick has received threats since announcing he supports Mr Andrews’ new laws to manage pandemics.
The laws, which have passed Victoria’s lower house but are held up in the upper house, would give the premier the power to declare a pandemic for an unlimited period of time even if there are no cases of a virus.
Pictured: A demonstrator is with a Daniel Andrews poster at a protest last Saturday
The move would let the health minister make ‘any order’ he deems reasonably necessary’ which could include lockdowns, vaccine mandates, enforced mask-wearing and much more, with fines of up to $454,350 for rule-breakers.
Critics say the proposed laws are an ‘over-reach’ and ‘extreme’.
Mr Meddick is one of three crossbench MPs who support the laws.
In a statement, he said: ‘I have reason to believe this could be linked to my role as an MP and the positions I have taken on the pandemic response.
The MP said he has been ‘desperately worried’ about ‘comments, threats and intimidation’ that have been made against his family, staff and colleagues since he announced his support for the government’s pandemic bill.
‘My worst fears have been turned into a reality,’ he said.
On Monday evening protesters staged a mock execution of the premier using wooden gallows.
Demonstrators at a protest on Saturday carried three nooses in an apparent reference to crossbenchers who have supported the bill.
Mr Meddick thanked the people who helped his daughter and the carers and health workers who treated her in hospital. She has since been discharged
‘She will be ok – but it will take time,’ he said.
The MP said the police are investigating the attack and asked people to respect his family’s privacy.
‘I do also ask that people understand and respect the fact that comments, insults, intimidation and incitement can all have very real and absolutely devastating consequences.’
Last week, Mr Meddick revealed protesters had targeted his house.
‘It’s a genuine fear… that we will see re-enactments of what has occurred in the UK where MPs are actually killed and this is something that I’m desperately trying to avoid,’ he said at the time.
Some protesters held three nooses as they rallied against the proposed bill in possible reference to the three crossbench MPs who decide whether the bill passes
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