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By MATT JONES, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA
Published: | Updated:
A prominent neo-Nazi has turned up at a One Nation fundraiser before Pauline Hanson was forced to flee the event to avoid protesters.
The event was moved at the last minute after Italian restaurant Giorgio Casa, in Moonee Ponds, cancelled it due to the threat of anti-racism protesters.
Hanson arrived at the fundraiser’s new location in Melbourne‘s south with MP Barnaby Joyce who declared: ‘We’re no Nazis, that’s just crap.’
But it didn’t stop neo-Nazi Michael ‘Mickle’ Nelson turning up and saying: ‘I’m here supporting One Nation, yes. Australia for the white man!’
Nelson and two other members of the banned National Socialist Network were moved on by police while a protester yelled: ‘Nazi scum’.
Nelson later returned near the venue but was handcuffed and taken away by police, but was not arrested.
Tickets to the event cost between $200 and $500, and $2,000 for a meet and greet with Hanson and Joyce.
At the fundraiser, Hanson told the crowd she could work with the Coalition, but not with Jacinta Allan’s Labor government.
Well-known neo-Nazi Michael ‘Mickle’ Nelson turned up to support Pauline Hanson
Protesters hold placards during a protest against a One Nation fundraiser in Melbourne on Friday night which was attended by Pauline Hanson
Hanson arrives at the event in Melbourne’s south on Friday night
‘I’m going to give you the opportunity to vote for someone other than the two major parties,’ she said.
‘But I will work with a Coalition government because who needs to go is the toxic Labor government.
‘Change is on the way. You know why? I always said, it is people power that makes the change. There’s this underground movement that’s happening.’
Guests inside the event were some of One Nation’s firmest supporters, including Pauline’s daughter Lee; Adam Giles, CEO of Hancock Agriculture and former NT chief minister; Toorak socialite Virginia Gibson; comedian Elliot Loney; and Rikki-Lee Tyrrell, One Nation’s only Victorian MP.
Hanson was eventually escorted out a back entrance by security to avoid the estimated 50 protesters who turned up to vent their anger at the polarising politician.
‘All One Nation supporters are worthless,’ they called out.
‘No racists, no fear, Hanson is not welcome here,’ was another chant yelled at Hanson.
It comes after Hanson spent the first of $3million donated to One Nation on a ‘Fire the Liar’ billboard set outside Anthony Albanese’s electorate office.
Protesters at Friday night’s event said they wanted to ‘drive Hanson out’ and there is ‘no room for fascism’ in Melbourne
Nelson returned to the event before police handcuffed him and took him away
Hanson and Barnaby Joyce spoke at the fundraiser on Friday night
A war of words started earlier this week when Labor began asking its supporters for a $27 donation to ‘prevent One Nation from turning polling momentum into seats’.
Hanson fired back by launching her ‘Fire the Liar’ fundraiser at 6am on Wednesday, with suggested donations starting at $29.
One Nation claimed to have raised nearly $3million by Friday.
In a message shared on social media, protesters of Friday night’s event wrote that they wanted to ‘drive Hanson out’ and there is ‘no room for fascism’ in Melbourne.
‘One Nation can’t be wished away or ignored. They’re trying to create a Trump-style Australia: deportations of migrants, overturning abortion rights, rampant Islamophobia and racist campaigns against Indigenous people,’ Campaign Against Fascism wrote on Facebook.
Hanson’s chief of staff James Ashby called the protest groups ‘filth’ during an interview on 3AW radio on Friday morning.
‘That says to me we’re getting cut through. When the filth come out and want to protest against One Nation, you know you’re doing something right,’ he said.
