Fundraiser Cancellation Due to Protests
Melbourne Restaurant Cancels One Nation Fundraiser Amid Anti-Racism Protests and Historical Tensions
Key Points
A Giorgio Casa spokeswoman said the venue was “still confirming” what had happened after a cancellation notice briefly appeared in the restaurant window around lunchtime and then “disappeared.”
The fundraiser had been billed as an “exclusive evening … and networking event” bringing together “business leaders, community figures and supporters seeking a stronger direction for Victoria,” with senior One Nation leadership.
Melbourne’s anti-One Nation protests in the 1990s included major turnouts such as “tens of thousands” flooding Treasury Gardens in 1996 against Hanson’s anti-immigration rhetoric, including her “swamped by Asians” claim.
Those protests also included violent clashes: when Hanson formally launched One Nation at Dandenong Town Hall in 1997, demonstrations “turned violent” with demonstrators “throwing rotten fruit and bottles” and clashing with police.
A One Nation fundraiser at Giorgio Casa, an Italian restaurant in Moonee Ponds, was cancelled on June 12 after anti-racism protesters announced plans to march on the venue. Guardian Australia reported that Victoria Police confirmed the restaurant cancelled the booking by 3:30 PM, though police said they were "not aware of any specific threats."
One Nation told media the "sold-out" cocktail event had been moved to an "undisclosed location" to keep attendees safe. The party never confirmed whether the event went ahead at all. The fundraiser had been billed as an "exclusive evening" for "business leaders, community figures and supporters seeking a stronger direction for Victoria," with Senator Pauline Hanson and MP Barnaby Joyce set to attend, according to Head Topics.
A Cancellation Sign That Came and Went
Around lunchtime on June 12, a printed cancellation notice appeared in the front window of Giorgio Casa. Then it "disappeared." A spokeswoman for the venue told Guardian Australia the restaurant was "still confirming" what had happened. By mid-afternoon, Victoria Police made it official: the booking was cancelled.
One Nation had formally announced the event on May 28, calling it "An Evening for Victoria." Tickets sold out. The TryBooking event page described it as a networking night bringing together supporters and senior party figures. The sudden cancellation left the party scrambling to find a new location on the same day.
Protesters Planned to March on the Restaurant
By June 11, protest groups had gone public with their plans. The Campaign against Racism and Fascism (CARF) and No Room for Racism announced a rally at Queens Park War Memorial for 5:45 PM, followed by a march on Giorgio Casa. CARF put out a direct call to action: "We need to stand up and fight back... to show that Pauline Hanson and One Nation can't just waltz around the suburbs of Melbourne."
Some far-right figures also signalled they might show up to "defend" the event, raising the prospect of clashes between opposing groups. Victoria Police said they maintained a high-visibility presence in Moonee Ponds. By 5:45 PM, protesters had gathered despite the venue change, causing tram and road disruptions along Mt Alexander Road, according to Nine.
Melbourne Has Seen This Before With One Nation
Melbourne has a long, sometimes violent history with One Nation protests. In 1996, an estimated 30,000 people flooded Treasury Gardens after Hanson's maiden speech claimed Australia was being "swamped by Asians," according to Guardian Australia. The rally was led by the Victorian Trades Hall Council and remains one of the largest political protests in the city's history.
In 1997, when Hanson formally launched One Nation at Dandenong Town Hall, protests turned violent. Demonstrators threw rotten fruit and bottles and clashed with police, forcing a heavy police escort for Hanson. The Moonee Ponds cancellation echoes that era, when protest pressure repeatedly disrupted the party's ability to hold public events freely.
One Nation Is Riding High Despite the Setback
The cancelled fundraiser comes at a moment of unusual political strength for One Nation. The party pulled 31% in the latest Newspoll and 24% in the Resolve poll, placing it ahead of the Coalition as Australia's most popular single party, according to Head Topics. The party also claims to have raised $2 million in the first 24 hours of its "Fire the Liar" campaign targeting the Labor government.
Political analysts have compared Hanson's current appeal to the "common-touch" popularity of Bob Hawke in 1983, with voters drawn in by economic resentment over housing costs and the cost-of-living crisis. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she is "not concerned about the funds, but about the policies," while Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has ruled out any formal coalition or preference deal with One Nation, according to Guardian Australia.
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