Shoe-throwing protester proud of actions

A Queensland refugee advocate who allegedly threw his shoes at Immigration Minister Peter Dutton in protest will plead not guilty.

A Queensland refugee advocate who allegedly threw his shoes at Peter Dutton in disgust believes he has successfully shamed the Immigration Minister.

David Sprigg, 33, was attending a welcoming ceremony for refugees in Brisbane's south two weeks ago when he allegedly yelled at Mr Dutton and threw his shoes to protest the government's border protection measures.

Mr Dutton caught one of the shoes and brushed off the incident, acknowledging not everyone agreed with the Abbott government's policies.

Mr Sprigg was charged with public nuisance and appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday, where he indicated he would fight the charge.

Magistrate John Costello adjourned the matter and agreed to drop one of Mr Sprigg's bail conditions that he not go near the Annerley park where the ceremony took place.

Many attendees shared his view that it was hypocritical of Mr Dutton to speak at the welcoming ceremony while the government turned back asylum seeker boats, Mr Sprigg told AAP outside court.

"It would have been nice if everyone was throwing their shoes at him and he was so ashamed that he changed his policies," he said.

"That would be great."

Mr Sprigg said he felt strongly about the plight of asylum seekers because his own ancestors came to Australia by boat to escape religious persecution.

He said he would seek legal advice prior to his next court appearance on July 22 and may end up representing himself.

But he will not apologise to the minister.

"I think the Immigration Minister needs to apologise to all those refugees that are in detention, and all the people who have drowned at sea and people getting turned back in boats," he said.

"I'm definitely not apologising for publicly shaming him for what's happening to refugees."


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Source: AAP


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