Victorian opposition leader Jess Wilson says Pauline Hanson has not approached her, after the One Nation leader last night told a political fundraiser she would work with the Coalition to oust Labor.
Senator Hanson, speaking at the fundraiser in South Melbourne, told her supporters she would give them the opportunity to vote for someone other than the major political parties.
“I will work with the Coalition government, because who needs to go is the toxic Labor government,” she said.
“That’s my aim. I will work with anyone who is prepared to get rid of them.”
Jess Wilson says conversations about preferences will take place closer to the election. (ABC News)
Addressing media this morning, Ms Wilson did not provide a clear answer when asked if her party would consider working with One Nation.
“As I’ve said many times before, and I’ll say again many times before the election, preferences exist at every election,” she said.
“We have a preferential system of voting and those conversations will all happen much closer to the time when we have a sense of what the parties are, who the candidates are, and what the policies are.”
When asked if Senator Hanson had approached her, Ms Wilson answered: “No.”
Before last night’s political fundraiser, which was moved at the last minute and attracted about 30 protesters, Senator Hanson described Victoria as “a state that needs change”.
“We’ve had our biggest membership coming out of Victoria, we’ve had the interest coming out of Victoria.
“People just want change in the state and they’re screaming out for it, for change.”
As Senator Hanson arrived, protesters targeting the gathering chanted “shame” and “die Nazi scum”.
Also present outside the venue was neo-Nazi Michael Nelson, who told reporters he had attended in support of Senator Hanson, who he called “the great white hope”.
Michael Nelson was detained and moved on for breach of the peace. (ABC News)
Victoria Police said a 22-year-old man was detained and moved on by officers outside the event for breach of the peace.
“As a matter of course, police will review any vision or CCTV from the evening,” a police spokesperson said.
Mr Nelson was convicted and fined after booing during an Anzac Day dawn service in Melbourne last year.
Ms Wilson said there was no place for white supremacy in Victoria or Australia.
She said protesters — and political parties — had the right to have their say.
“We never want to see any violence or any extremism at any event,” Ms Wilson said.
“Events should be able to be held here for any political purposes legitimately and with peaceful protest if that’s the case. We do not want to see violence on our streets.”
