One Nation volunteer allegedly assaulted at home in Victoria
A One Nation volunteer has been hospitalised with serious injuries after allegedly being assaulted at his home.
The alleged assault began at the man’s home in Torquay, near Geelong, on Sunday night after two people allegedly interfered with One Nation signs on display, according to the party’s leader in Victoria, Warren Pickering.
The One Nation supporter was allegedly attacked with a baseball bat. Supplied
Police said they were called to a home on Scorpio Street about 7.45pm after a man, 60, was allegedly assaulted with a baseball bat.
The man was taken to Geelong Hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.
He is currently in a stable condition.
Pickering condemned the alleged attack, saying any form of political violence was “un-Australian.”
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson will visit the victim in hospital today. Alex Ellinghausen
“Political violence or intimidation of any kind against anyone is unacceptable in this country,” he said in a statement.
“If you don’t like someone’s politics, you vote accordingly. You don’t assault them.
“Our thoughts are with our volunteer and his family, we’re informed he has serious injuries.
“This [alleged] attack is un-Australian and unacceptable.”
Police said a 37-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy were taken into custody.
The man was charged with intentionally causing injury and other assault-related offences, and directly presented at Geelong Magistrates Court
He was remanded to appear at court again on November 10.
One Nation’s Victorian leader Warren Pickering condemned any acts of violence ahead of the Victorian election later this month. The Australian Financial Review
The boy was issued with a caution.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and the Victorian deputy leader, Colleen Harkin, will attend Geelong Hospital today to meet the alleged victim and will speak to the media.
Pickering said a pub in Ballarat had also recently been vandalised after displaying One Nation signs, and he insisted political violence could not shroud the upcoming election.
“I understand this is a critical election without recent precedents, I understand many Victorians are frustrated, I understand the ‘temperature’ of debate is high,” he said.
“None of this is an excuse for violence.
“We don’t have to accept the erosion of the middle ground for respectful debate or peaceful disagreement. We must build that ground up and give it unassailable foundations.”
It is not the first time this year a One Nation volunteer has allegedly been assaulted.
In August, a party staffer was hospitalised with a broken rib after allegedly being attacked at Brisbane’s Ekka festival while wearing party clothing.
The Victorian election is being pitted as a three-way contest between Labor, the Coalition and One Nation.
Victorians go to the polls on Saturday, November 28.
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
