Red-faced Hewson retreats

By Julia Perkins

SYDNEY -- “Listen mate, I grew up from your stage. I'm going to make sure you have the chance to get a job”, yelled red-faced, finger-pointing Liberal leader John Hewson outside Randwick Social Security office on February 4.

Hewson clashed with protesters during a visit aimed at selling Liberal policies, including the Goods and Services Tax. The protesters claimed the Liberals had no policies to reduce unemployment -- only the unemployment figures, which would be achieved by throwing people off the dole after nine months.

The protest appeared to take Hewson by surprise, and he became rattled, cancelling his tour of the office and refusing any media interviews after the workers inside also reacted less than warmly to his presence.

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