The actions of the 17-year-old youth in hitting Senator Anning with an egg amounted to assault and he could find himself in court as a result, unless the police caution him instead. The senator’s response, by punching the teenager, was something else. Provoked it may have been, but it was grossly disproportionate. Far too aggressive in the circumstances.
When Julia Gillard was our prime minister, she was also on the receiving end of a few egg missiles, but she shrugged them off, saying they would wash off.
While I can’t deny being cheered at the sight of the senator’s humiliation, he deserved it and far worse. I hope his reaction leads to him being prosecuted and punished.