One Nation condemns alleged baseball bat assault on volunteer - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Warren Pickering says a One Nation volunteer sustained serious injuries following an alleged assault in Torquay. (AAP: Jay Kogler)
The Victorian One Nation leader has condemned an alleged assault on a party volunteer in Torquay.
Warren Pickering says the volunteer was attacked with a baseball bat after an altercation over One Nation signs at their home.
Two males were arrested over the incident, with a 37-year-old man charged with assault offences.
One Nation Victoria has condemned an alleged attack on a party volunteer at his home on Sunday night that left him hospitalised.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said a 37-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy were arrested following the alleged assault on Scorpio Street in Torquay about 7:45pm.
The 60-year-old volunteer was allegedly attacked with a baseball bat and taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The 37-year-old man has been charged with assault offences and has been remanded to appear before court on November 10.
The 14-year-old boy was issued with a caution.
One Nation Victoria leader Warren Pickering said the attack allegedly began after One Nation signs on the victim's property were interfered with.
Mr Pickering said any kind of political violence or intimidation was unacceptable.
"[If] you don't like someone's politics, you vote accordingly. You don't assault them," he said.
"Our thoughts are with our volunteer and his family. We're informed he has serious injuries. This attack is un-Australian and unacceptable."
Federal One Nation leader Pauline Hanson travelled to University Hospital Geelong today to visit the victim of the alleged attack.
She said the man was suffering from a brain bleed and was in a serious but stable condition.
"I feel for the family, he’s self-employed, who knows what is going to happen now," Senator Hanson said.
Visibly emotional when describing her meeting with the man, Senator Hanson said she was moved by the man's dedication to the party.
"His resilience, his belief in One Nation and what we represent, and he said he wants to go right back out there and put the signs up," Senator Hanson said.
One Nation candidate Colleen Harkin and leader Pauline Hanson visited the man in hospital today. (ABC News)
The One Nation leader said she did not want to politicise the attack, but said the "slap on the wrist" given to the teenager alleged to be involved in the assault was "the problem with Victoria".
"Whether … Ben Carroll gets back in as premier or whether it's Jess Wilson or whether it’s One Nation that we actually have some say in this state … all of us have to be doing better than what is happening now in this state when it comes to crime," she said.
Senator Hanson said she would personally donate to a crowdfunding page set up for the family.
The alleged attack came on the same day as a vandalism attack on a pub in Ballarat East.
A car was vandalised at Meaghers Hotel in East Ballarat on Sunday. (Supplied)
Meaghers Hotel and cars parked outside the pub were spray-painted on Sunday morning with anti-One Nation slogans, which the owner of the pub called "mindless stupidity".

