CANBERRA, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been egged on the campaign trail before the nation's general election on May 18.
Morrison was greeting members of the Country Women's Association (CWA) at an event on Tuesday when a protestor walked up behind him and threw an egg, which bounced off Morrison's head without smashing.
The protester, who was carrying a carton of eggs, was tackled to the floor by security and has been taken into custody by New South Wales (NSW) Police.
An elderly woman, Margaret Baxter, who was knocked over by the protestor, was helped to her feet by Morrison and did not suffer any injuries.
"My concern about today's incident in Albury was for the older lady who was knocked off her feet," Morrison said on social media.
"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," he said.
"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."
Asked about the incident at a press conference on Tuesday, Bill Shorten, leader of the opposition Australian Labor Party (ALP), described it as "unacceptable," according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
"Let me be very clear. This is appalling and disgraceful behavior," he said.
"In Australia, we have violence-free elections. People are allowed to protest peacefully but anything approaching violence is completely unacceptable.
"If this protestor thinks that she will get any sympathy or support from me she couldn't be more wrong.
"This is completely unacceptable and the Prime Minister has my complete sympathy and, of course, the lady who got knocked down in the process."
It is the second egging incident in Australian politics in months.
Fraser Anning, a Queensland senator, was egged by a 17-year-old from Melbourne in March after he linked Muslim immigration to the Christchurch mosque attacks.
