At victory party, anti-mining protester photobombs Abbott family

On the internet they call it photobombing - crashing someone else's photo, usually without their knowledge.

And that's what happened to Tony Abbott and his family after they took the stage at the Liberal leader's victory party last night.

ABC News camera footage of the event shows Fregmonto Stokes (25) already at the podium as Mr Abbott and his family walk onstage.

Mr Stokes, holding an official-looking clipboard, congratulates the incoming Prime Minister, who replies "Thanks, mate."

The Melbourne student, then stands onstage beside the Abbott family for around a minute, ensuring he is included in many of the first victory photos.

He wis eventually bundled off by Mr Abbott's security detail, shouting something unintelligible as he's manhandled off the stage.

Mr Stokes - who goes by the name Twiggy Palmcock on a parody Facebook page - is an anti-mining protestor. Last year he joined 13 other anti-coal activists who chained themselves to the pillars of the Victorian parliament building.

But in the hour he spent hobnobbing with Liberal Party brass, and his moments onstage, he behaved himself and only seemed to have the "photobomb" prank as his primary aim.

Mr Abbott was protected at the event by Australian Federal Police and security guards supplied by the New South Wales wing of Liberal Party.

Mr Stokes told media he got into the event by making a fake security wristband out of yellow Starburst wrappers.

No charges have been laid at this point, Australian Police say.

The incident recalls a 2007 prank that saw TV comedy troop The Chaser's War on Everything beat APEC meeting roadblocks in Sydney, despite their lack of official credentials and one of their party being dressed as Osama bin Laden.

NBR staff
Sun, 08 Sep 2013

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At victory party, anti-mining protester photobombs Abbott family

Abbott wins - his key policies

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