Albury: Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison was hit on the head with an egg and a 70-year-old woman was knocked off her feet Tuesday during a protest ahead of a general election next week.
The egg appeared to strike Morrison on the back of the head and then bounce off without breaking as he spoke to a rural women's conference in the town of Albury.
Bystander Margaret Baxter was knocked to the floor as security guards grabbed the 24-year-old woman accused of throwing the egg, Amber Holt, and carried her outside.
Morrison helped Baxter to her feet.
It was unclear what Holt was protesting.
Police said Holt was charged with common assault and possession of a prohibited drug, cannabis.
She was released on bail and is to appear at Albury Local Court on May 27. Morrison called for more civility in the election campaign.
If re-elected on May 18, Morrison has promised to change laws to prevent vegan activist organisation Aussie Farms from publishing the addresses of farms it accuses of animal cruelty and encouraging the public to harass the farmers.
Morrison conceded that Holt was unlikely to be a vegan since she threw an egg.
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Opposition leader Bill Shorten condemned the protest as "appalling and disgraceful behavior."
Morrison was campaigning in an electorate held by his conservative Liberal Party.
The party fears that an independent candidate could win the seat at the election.
