One Nation staffer allegedly assaulted at Ekka festival in Brisbane
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A One Nation staffer was hospitalised with a broken rib after she was allegedly attacked while in One Nation-branded clothing at the Ekka Festival in Brisbane.
The woman in her 60s was operating a stall at the festival on Brisbane Showgrounds on Thursday when she was allegedly confronted by four people.
FILE IMAGE - One Nation representatives say the woman was wearing a part-branded t-shirt at the time of the assault. Supplied
The Ekka - otherwise known as Royal Queensland Show - is Queensland’s largest festival. AAP
The woman was allegedly spat on and struck multiple times.
James Ashby, Chief of Staff for One Nation’s leader Pauline Hanson, said the alleged attack forced the woman to go to hospital due to her injuries.
“She now has one broken rib, she’s got enormous bruising, and she’s had to go through the unedifying process of having to strip down in front of police so that they can take photographs of her injuries,” he told 4BC Radio on Monday.
“She’s had to go through the pain and suffering of the injury of a broken rib,” he added, saying the woman was discharged from hospital over the weekend.
Barnaby Joyce said condemned the alleged attack. Alex Ellinghausen
Ashby also claimed the woman was sworn at during the alleged attack.
One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce slammed the alleged attackers, linking them negatively to thousands of students who skipped university and high school classes on Thursday to protest against Hanson and One Nation.
“She was wearing a One Nation t-shirt, she was spat at, punched, they broke a rib,” he claimed on 2GB on Monday.
“These are the wondrous, enlightened people like you saw at those demonstrations the other day.”
Ashby said due to the alleged attack, One Nation staffers were now having to take measures to protect themselves from being confronted by members of the public.
“We’ve had to take the same precautionary effort that obviously the defence force have taken because of threats against their personnel outside of work hours,” Ashby said.
“Our people are not allowed to wear uniforms anymore outside of their work conditions,” Ashby said.
Queensland Police said it was aware of an incident that took place at the festival on Thursday.
“Police are aware of an altercation at Brisbane Showgrounds, Bowen Hills on 14 August,” a police spokesperson told nine.com.au.
“No formal complaints have been made to police at this stage.”
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