The activist who allegedly threw an egg at Scott Morrison previously pleaded guilty to an assault charge and was ordered to seek counselling, court records show.
Amber Paige Holt, 24, entered a guilty plea to a common assault (domestic violence) charge at Albury Court on November 14, 2017.
She escaped without a conviction and was ordered to abide by an 18-month good behaviour bond.
The bond expired only weeks before she allegedly threw an egg at the nation’s leader at a Country Women’s Association meeting in Albury, NSW, on Tuesday.
Ms Holt has apparently gone to ground since the egg-throwing incident – but appears to have kept her job following her alleged act of stupidity.
The activist who allegedly threw an egg at Scott Morrison previously pleaded guilty to an assault charge and was ordered to seek counselling, court records show
Amber Holt apparently approached the Prime Minister and smacked him in back of the head at a Country Women’s Association event in Albury, New South Wales on Tuesday
Retailer Cotton On has issued a statement saying the company is launching an internal investigation.
‘While individuals are entitled to hold their own opinions we do not condone this behaviour and it does not align with our company values,’ the statement said.
The young woman is believed to have a casual job for the company.
The 24-year-old was dressed in a red beanie and a ‘feminist’ T-shirt when she approached Mr Morrison and allegedly hurled the egg at his head.
Officers charged her with common assault and also allegedly found marijuana on her person.
Holt was freed on conditional bail, with bail documents saying: ‘You must not do any of the following to Scott Morrison … assault or threaten him’, among others.
‘The accused is not to attend any political related events, other than for the purpose of voting’.
The young woman was protesting the government’s offshore detention policy at the time.
Holt told reporters the egging ‘speaks for itself’ and that ‘he (Mr Morrison) deserves it’.
‘Have you seen his video to Manus Island?,’ she asked.
The young woman is seen (left) after she was ejected from the Country Women’s Association event and (right) in an image from social media
Mr Morrison was mingling with and talking to a group of older women when an egg was thrown from behind him and seemed to skim his head
Online, Holt described the PM’s views as ‘bigoted’ and regularly shares NSW Greens memes.
Mr Morrison was mingling with a group of older women earlier today when the protester threw the egg from close behind him.
An elderly woman toppled over in the melee that followed.
Holt was swiftly ejected from the venue by Mr Morrison’s bodyguards.
She walked away clutching a half-dozen eggs and told reporters: ‘He deserves it, he deserves a lot worse actually.’
But she admitted she didn’t mean to knock over the elderly woman.
‘No that was not my intention. I am sorry for that,’ she said.
She denied her protest was an act of aggression: ‘It was the most harmless thing you can do.’
When reporters questioned her further, she said she ‘had to go to work’ and had no comment.
She then walked into the local police station, where she was taken into custody.
Mr Morrison condemned the attack as ‘thuggery’ in a tweet immediately following the incident.
He compared his assailant to vegan protesters who have wrought havoc recently.
He wrote: ‘My concern about today’s incident in Albury was for the older lady who was knocked off her feet.
‘I helped her up and gave her a hug. Our farmers have to put up with these same idiots who are invading their farms and their homes.’
Mr Morrison continued: ‘We will stand up to thuggery whether it’s these cowardly activists who have no respect for anyone, or militant unionists standing over small businesses and their employees on work sites.’
He later quipped he didn’t want to ‘over-egg’ the incident.
At least one Wodonga friend of Holt has already praised her alleged actions: ‘I love you Amber Paige! (her Facebook name).
The Prime Minister appeared shocked and rubbed the back of his head. Pictured: The missile in mid air
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said he felt sorry for the PM and criticised the protester.
Speaking in Waurn Ponds, Victoria, he said: ‘The Prime Minister has my complete sympathy, as does the lady who was knocked over.
‘This is not what we do in this country. This is not what we do in Australia.
‘It doesn’t matter if you’re on the hard-left or the hard-right, it’s disgraceful and appalling.’
Meanwhile, Senator Fraser Anning claimed Mr Morrison’s assailant was encouraged by the way the public responded to the ‘Egg Boy’ who attacked him.
Will Connolly became a social media sensation after smashing an egg over the far-right senator’s head.
‘It has created a situation where grubs think this behaviour is acceptable,’ Mr Anning said.
‘This is politically motivated violence and is never acceptable!’
Senate candidate Fraser Anning, who was in March egged by a young protester at a rally in Melbourne, said Mr Morrison’s assailant was encouraged by the way the public responded the boy who attacked him
Today is not the first time a Prime Minister has had items thrown at them by members of the public.
In 2013 children repeatedly threw sandwiches at Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
She was famously struck by white-bread salami sandwich at an event at Lyneham High in Canberra.
A Perth man was charged with assault after he threw an egg at Ms Gillard in 2010.