One Nation volunteer allegedly bashed over corflutes in front yard
A One Nation volunteer is in hospital after he was allegedly attacked by a man and a teenager with a baseball bat on his front lawn in a coastal town on the Great Ocean Road.
Victoria Police said in a statement on Tuesday the 60-year-old was recovering from serious, non-life-threatening injuries after he confronted a 14-year-old boy who was allegedly damaging a corflute outside a home in Torquay on Sunday evening.
The man was then allegedly attacked with a baseball bat by the teenager and a 37-year-old man.
Speaking outside Geelong Hospital on Tuesday, where the man is recovering, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson said the volunteer had been kicked so badly he “lost consciousness”, and had bleeding of the brain and “from basically every orifice” in his face.
In contradiction to the police’s assessment, Hanson said the attack “was life-threatening. Even now, with the bleed, it still could be life-threatening”.
Hanson and One Nation Victoria deputy leader Colleen Harkin visited the man before speaking with media outside the hospital.
“I’m very emotional about this because I respect people who support me, I really do. I don’t take it for granted. It means a lot to me, and that’s when, in times like this, you have to, you know, be there for them as well,” she said.
“This kind of vicious and savage violence has to stop, and the consequences have to be made real.”
Hanson said the alleged offenders didn’t leave the property after the attack.
“They actually then went up to near the house and started smashing his car, as well, destroyed that.”
Harkin called the alleged assault a “savage attack on a person”.
Victoria Police said the teenager and 37-year-old Hampton Park man were arrested after the alleged attack, which occurred about 7.45pm on Sunday.
The man was charged with intentionally causing injury and other offences, while the teenager was issued a caution.
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll said the alleged attack was “shocking” and he had met with the electoral commissioner to discuss it.
“It should never be occurring,” Carol said. “Whether you’re wearing a red, a blue, an orange, or a green T-shirt, they are volunteers. They are out there doing what they believe is right, and no one should be coming under attack.”
Carroll called for a “civil, peaceful election” due in just over three weeks, and said he was considering whether extra security was needed for candidates of all parties.
Opposition Leader Jess Wilson said the alleged attack on the volunteer was “absolutely appalling” and her thoughts were with the man and his family.
One Nation Victoria leader Warren Pickering condemned the attack in a statement, calling it “un-Australian”.
“Our thoughts are with our volunteer and his family. We’re informed he has serious injuries. This attack is un-Australian and unacceptable.”
Emma McGinness, a nearby resident of the victim, was home at the time but did not witness the incident. She said the alleged attack had put a “dampener on the safety around the area”.
“It’s a lovely place, a nice quiet dead-end street, so it’s definitely something that has never happened before,” McGinness said.
“We’ve always felt very safe and let our kids ride around the streets, like the other neighbours do.”
Hanson said an online fundraiser had been started to support the victim and his family, including his wife and two teenage sons.
The 37-year-old man was remanded to appear at Geelong Magistrates’ Court on November 10.
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