Clashes Outside One Nation Fundraiser; Labor Warns of Opposition Chaos
Protesters and One Nation supporters clashed in Melbourne, while Labor minister Chris Bowen criticized the opposition parties.
On Friday, protesters clashed with Pauline Hanson supporters outside a Melbourne venue hosting a One Nation fundraiser. Michael Nelson, who was convicted of offensive behavior and fined last week for disrupting a Melbourne Anzac Day dawn service, was restrained by police and given a move-on notice. In videos posted online, he can be heard saying “Hail Pauline Hanson … the great white hope” while handcuffed, later accusing police of arresting him for supporting the One Nation leader.
Victoria Police confirmed on Saturday that no formal arrests were made during the protests, but a 22-year-old man was directed to move on. The clashes occurred after One Nation was forced to relocate the Moonee Ponds fundraiser, where Hanson and former National MP Barnaby Joyce were scheduled to speak. The initial venue, an Italian restaurant called Giorgio Casa, canceled the booking on Friday afternoon due to safety concerns over planned counter-protests by anti-fascist and socialist activist groups.
Hanson later claimed the last-minute venue change had nothing to do with the protests. “We had too many bookings, people wanting to come,” she said. “Do you think I’d be deterred by the protesters? Think twice. No.”
About 30 protesters gathered near the new South Melbourne location, where police maintained a visible presence. After Nelson was given the move-on notice, the event concluded without major escalation, though CCTV footage of the protest would be reviewed.
At a media conference on Saturday, climate change and energy minister Chris Bowen responded to questions about the surge in support for One Nation. “One Nation has anger, but not answers. One Nation has slogans, but not solutions,” he said. “We’re providing answers and solutions and real change.”
Bowen said Hanson and Joyce had “made clear” they would be working with the Liberal party. “If you want a stable government, Anthony Albanese will lead a stable, reforming, changing government,” he said. “Angus Taylor, Barnaby Joyce and Pauline Hanson will give us chaos. That’ll be the choice before the Australian people at the next election.”
