Victorian One Nation leader insists attack on volunteer was ‘politically motivated’

One Nation’s Victorian leader has claimed the alleged attack on a party volunteer outside his home was “absolutely” politically motivated, despite police saying they were not treating it as such.

Speaking to Nine’s Today, Warren Pickering said the alleged assault cannot be deemed to be non-political.

“Regardless of what happened during the day earlier with the alleged offender, we’ve seen campaign materials torn out of the ground, and one of our volunteers go out on his own property to try and defend that property, to which point he was beaten up,” he said.

“So I’d argue it is absolutely politically motivated. Whether the day started that way or not, that’s how it ended.”

The 60-year-old volunteer was hospitalised with serious injuries, including a brain bleed, after he was allegedly assaulted by a 37-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy outside his home in Torquay on Sunday.

The pair had also allegedly damaged the One Nation signs that were on display.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson alleged they had also destroyed his car as he lay unconscious.

The 37-year-old man was charged with intentionally causing injury and other assault-related offences and will remain behind bars until his next court date on November 10, while the teenager was issued a caution.

Victoria Police on Wednesday confirmed investigators were not treating the alleged attack as being politically motivated.

Hanson, who visited the volunteer in hospital and donated $2000 to a fundraiser for him, was visibly emotional as she fronted the media.

She said the injuries had made the man unrecognisable.

“It’s very distressing, I find it very distressing now. I’m very emotional about this because I respect people who support me,” she said.

“I’m crying out now for something to be done.

“Whether it is Ben Carroll gets back in as premier, whether it’s Jess Wilson or whether it’s One Nation, we actually have some say in this state, all of us have to be doing better than what is happening in this state when it comes to crime.“

The volunteer was self-employed and the sole provider for his wife and children.

Victorian Premier Ben Carroll and Liberal leader Jess Wilson both condemned the attack.

Candidates have been given extra security ahead of the upcoming state election after federal MP Helen Haines was hospitalised and had both legs amputated following an alleged attack outside her electorate office in Wangaratta in September.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said there was a “direct correlation” between heated political rhetoric and threats and abuse against politicians.

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She said a One Nation online cartoon video that depicted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and former Victorian premier Dan Andrews being hit by cars could be an example of said political rhetoric.

Pickering defended One Nation’s online series and said there used to be a time when “we were able to not take ourselves so seriously and laugh at ourselves”.

“Satire is almost always going to be in poor taste. Now, you don’t have to agree with it, but the reality is it ties in to this country’s democracy and the tenets of freedom of speech,” he said.

“So, I’d encourage everyone to engage in robust political dialogue.”

Victoria is just weeks out from an election that appears to be a three-way race between Labor, the Coalition and, for the first time, One Nation.

“We have never seen an opportunity like this as a state, we’ve got a genuine three-way contest, and this could be the most consequential election in Victorian history,” Pickering said.