National

Diplomat on hunger strike taken to hospital

By AAP Newswire

Nov 17, 2023

Paramedics have taken former diplomat Gregory Andrews to hospital. -AAP Image

A former high-level Australian diplomat has been taken to hospital two weeks after embarking on a hunger strike outside parliament.

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Gregory Andrews started his protest in early November and vowed not to eat any food until Prime Minister Anthony Albanese "gets serious" and takes climate action.

But on the 16th day of his hunger strike, he reported feeling chest pains and shortness of breath.

He was attended by two nurses from Parliament House who asked if he would walk before calling an ambulance on Friday.

Mr Andrews walked unassisted into the back of the emergency vehicle when it arrived at the Parliament House lawns.

He had already lost significant amounts of weight, having dropped 10kg as of Friday.

The former diplomat worked with the government for more than 30 years, including as an ambassador to West Africa, threatened species commissioner and Australia's deputy chief climate negotiator at the United Nations.

He pointed to Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek's decision to approve four coal mine projects this year as fuelling his drive to take action.

Mr Andrews had planned to protest until at least December 13 in the hope Australia will ramp up its climate actions before the UN's COP 28 talks in Dubai.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press