Protest plans force One Nation to shift location of Melbourne fundraising event

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and MP Barnaby Joyce have arrived at a fundraising event in Melbourne’s inner suburbs, after the venue that was originally supposed to host the political party pulled out on Friday.

Anti-racism protesters who had planned to rally against the far-right party were thrown off by the late change of venue, and a planned protest outside the original Moonee Ponds venue fizzed out as news started to filter out about the new location.

Victoria Police confirmed that Giorgio Casa, the Italian restaurant in Moonee Ponds that was to host the cocktail party on Friday night, had during the day cancelled the event. Police said they were not aware of any threats made against the venue.

Outside the replacement venue in Melbourne’s inner suburbs, Hanson took aim at Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, whose leadership has been threatened by recent anonymous rumours of a potential challenge.

“Look, the people will have their say at the next election,” Hanson said. “I think that’s very important. She’ll be judged on her performance as premier for the state. But what I’m seeing here ... She’s going to struggle to even keep her seat, hold her seat, and I’ve heard rumours that they will oust her before the election.”

Although there was just one lone protester outside the replacement venue when Hanson and Joyce arrived, Joyce noted the strong police presence and decried the necessity of so much security. “I mean, I thought we’ve arrived at Melbourne, not Pyongyang,” he said. “This is political debate. People are allowed to have it. We’re a free nation, and, you know … that lady’s allowed to scream craziness. But don’t threaten people because that’s not Australia.”

Joyce told a radio station earlier in the day his party members wanted to be able to walk the streets “unmolested” by the left, who he accused of trying to infringe on the parliamentarians’ rights.

“This is the home of AFL and seminal to that is our right and our freedom to have our political discussion. And if we haven’t got that, we’re losing what Australia is,” he said. “It’s ridiculous. If Carlton supporters can walk around with Collingwood supporters and both go to a pub and have a talk to Essendon supporters, then why can’t we have a political event in Melbourne?”

Similar One Nation fundraisers held in other Australian cities this week were also met with protests, including Perth, where hundreds held signs decrying racism and the party itself.

Groups such as No Room for Racism, the Victorian Socialists, and Free Palestine Melbourne had planned to gather near the Melbourne fun