This is part of a story on a murder investigation, but the alleged murderer turns out to have been part of a past incident with our Prime Minister. This is another side to the PM, who is vastly under-appreciated, especially by people who are nothing like him in their common decency.

The man . . . punched Prime Minister Tony Abbott in the face nine years ago.

Mr Abbott was visiting the Thomas Embling [Psychiatric] Hospital on February 22, 2006, in his capacity as Federal Health Minister when he was attacked in the hospital’s acute care unit. . . .

Media reports of the incident say Mr Abbott was hit twice, without warning.

In an interview with an Age journalist . . . Mr Price said that he was the man who hit Mr Abbott, adding that the incident had given him “new respect” for the man who would become Prime Minister.

“I hit him and he stepped back and shaped up like a boxer,” Mr Price said.

“Then he dropped his hands and smiled, and said ‘I’ve been hit harder than that on the football field’.”

Mr Price, who remains in custody, said he had admired Mr Abbott’s self-control, saying not many people would have been able to refrain from hitting him back.

Mr Price’s story has been confirmed by a psychiatric nurse who worked at the Thomas Embling at the time of Mr Abbott’s visit.

“Much to Mr Abbott’s surprise, he realised there was no security operating in the hospital as such,” he said.

Mr Abbott was reported at the time of the attack as joking that “some people probably thought he had a sane moment”.

A spokesman for Mr Abbott said at the time that it was “a matter of complete inconsequence”.

“(The man) did take a swing. He did connect, but to say he punched him is overstating it,” the spokesman said.

[Via Tim Blair]