Pauline Hanson claimed fundraiser was moved from original location due to ‘too many bookings’, not because of expected protests
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Protesters have clashed with Pauline Hanson supporters, with one man given a move on notice outside a Melbourne venue hosting a One Nation fundraiser on Friday.
Michael Nelson, who was convicted of offensive behavior and fined last week for disrupting a Melbourne Anzac Day dawn service, was restrained by officers outside the South Melbourne venue.
In videos posted online, he can be heard saying “Hail Pauline Hanson … the great white hope,” while being handcuffed, then going on to accuse the police of arresting him for supporting the One Nation leader.
On Saturday, Victoria Police confirmed no formal arrests were made during the protests, but a 22-year-old man “was given a direction to move on”.
The clashes happened 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, cancelled the booking on Friday afternoon due to safety concerns over planned counter-protests by anti-fascist and socialist activist groups.
Hanson subsequently claimed the last minute change in venue 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 direction to move on, the event concluded without major escalation, the police statement said, although CCTV footage of the protest would be reviewed as a matter of course.
At a media conference on Saturday, the 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.”
Source: Guardian - World News
