Police confirm arrest of 37-year-old and 14-year-old boy over alleged assault in Torquay on Sunday night
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Leaders from across the political spectrum have condemned the alleged assault of a One Nation volunteer with a baseball bat outside his home on Victoria’s Surf Coast.
Police on Tuesday confirmed they arrested a 37-year-old Hampton Park man and a 14-year-old boy over the incident, which occurred at a Torquay home on Sunday night.
“Investigators have been told the males allegedly assaulted the victim at a premises on Scorpio Street about 7.45pm,” a police spokesperson said.
“It is believed they allegedly assaulted the man with a baseball bat before being arrested by attending units a short time later.”
The Hampton Park man was charged with intentionally causing injury and other assault-related offences, and was remanded in custody to appear again on 10 November, while the boy was issued with a caution.
The victim, a 60-year-old man, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.
However, One Nation’s federal leader, Pauline Hanson, told reporters that his condition could be “life-threatening”.
After visiting the man at the Geelong hospital alongside Victorian deputy leader, Colleen Harkin, on Tuesday, she alleged he had been “kicked [so] badly he lost consciousness”. He was left “bleeding from basically every orifice in his face”, as well as bleeding in the brain, Hanson said.
“It was a vicious attack. It wasn’t just a punch,” Hanson alleged. “Even now, with the bleed, it still could be life-threatening.”
Harkin alleged it was a “savage attack on a person just because they’ve got a One Nation corflute in their own private property”.
The duo said an online fundraiser had been started to support the victim, who is self-employed, and his family. As of 2pm Tuesday, more than $80,000 had been raised, including a $2,000 personal donation from Hanson.
The Victorian premier, Ben Carroll, described the alleged incident as “shocking” and said violence should never occur on the campaign trail.
“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 said.
“Let’s have a civil, peaceful election.”
The opposition leader, Jess Wilson, said the alleged attack was “absolutely appalling” and wished the man a speedy recovery.
“Every Victorian has the right to express their political views and support the party of their choice without fear of violence or intimidation,” Wilson said.
“We can disagree strongly about politics, but violence is never the answer.”
The Victorian Greens leader, Ellen Sandell, said volunteers were the “heart of our political movements and our democracy, and they deserve to be safe”.
Sandell said she had recently proposed several ideas to the premier to improve the safety of MPs, staff and volunteers during the campaign, including an memorandum of understanding between parties about appropriate conduct.
Police are also searching for a woman as part of its investigation into an incident involving the Liberal party MP Georgie Crozier last month.
Police on Tuesday morning said the 62-year-old was handing out flyers with a group of volunteers outside a supermarket on Bay Street in Port Melbourne on 17 October when she was approached by an unknown woman who appeared substance-affected.
A short time later, a vehicle mounted a gutter near the group, before it swerved towards nearby traffic lights and left the scene.
Police said those involved where “shaken” after the incident but not physically injured.
They have released an image of a woman they hope will be able to assist their investigation and are calling for any other witnesses to come forward.
MPs in Victoria are on high alert in the lead-up to the 28 November state election after the alleged attack on the federal MP Helen Haines last month.
Last week Victoria’s emergency services minister, Paul Edbrooke, told reporters he believed he was being followed and feared for his family’s safety after a bullet, etched with the word “RAT” and his former firefighter number, was left on his car.
The Animal Justice party MP Georgie Purcell and the Nationals MP Annabelle Cleeland have also raised concerns about threats, while the husband of the Liberal party candidate for Yan Yean, Amanda Dow, was allegedly assaulted during a confrontation over election signs on 25 October.
