Protesters clash outside One Nation fundraiser while Labor says opposition parties will ‘give us chaos’ | One Nation
Protesters clashed with Pauline Hanson supporters and a man was reported outside a Melbourne venue hosting a One Nation fundraiser on Friday.
Michael Nelson, who was found guilty of offensive behavior and fined for disrupting Melbourne’s Anzac Day dawn ceremony last week, was restrained by officers outside a South Melbourne hall.
In videos posted online, he can be heard saying “Hi Pauline Hanson… great white hope” while handcuffed and then accusing police of arresting him because he supports the One Nation leader.
On Saturday, Victoria Police confirmed no formal arrests had been made during the protests, but a 22-year-old man was “instructed to proceed”.
The clashes occurred after One Nation was forced to relocate a Moonee Ponds fundraiser where Hanson and former Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce were scheduled to speak.
The first venue, an Italian restaurant called Giorgio Casa, canceled its reservation Friday afternoon due to security concerns about counter-protests planned by anti-fascist and socialist activist groups.
Hanson later claimed that the last-minute venue change had nothing to do with the protests.
“We had so many reservations, people wanted to come,” he said.
“You think the protesters will deter me? Think twice. No.”
About 30 protesters gathered near the new South Melbourne location, where police maintained a visible presence.
The police statement stated that the incident ended without major tension after Nelson was instructed to take action, but CCTV footage of the protest will naturally be examined.
At a media conference on Saturday, climate change and energy minister Chris Bowen answered questions about the growing support for One Nation.
“One nation has anger but no answer. One nation has a slogan but no solution,” he said.
“We provide answers, solutions and real change.”
Bowen said Hanson and Joyce had “made it clear” they would work 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. This will be the choice for the Australian people at the next election.”
