Related: Foundry cans One Nation event
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The One Nation party has found a new venue to launch its federal election campaign for Victoria after a public backlash forced the original venue to back down from hosting the event last month.
Senate candidate Elise Chapman said organisers originally planned to keep the venue secret until 24-hours before the February 13 launch to avoid a repeat of the campaign which caused The Foundry Hotel Complex to renege on hosting the event.
But Ms Chapman – a Bendigo councillor – told the Bendigo Advertiser that The Shamrock Hotel “did not have a problem” with going public.
“And I’d like to thank The Shamrock for upholding democracy and giving free speech a go,” Ms Chapman said.
“We have the right to at least be heard – I don't think any other political party has ever had a problem booking a venue before.
“What happened last time is an outrage really... a disgrace.”
'A lot of people are waking up to the fact that we should have listened to One Nation, we should have listened to Pauline 20 years ago when she first spoke out,”
- One Nation senate candidate Elise Chapman
The Lockwood Ward councillor said she and Ms Hanson would try to speak to everyone at the event in person, answer questions and spell out the party’s policies for the next election.
“Obviously immigration is a major issue for us, we stand for no more mosques, no halal as well as a whole lot of different things like supporting farmers... and employment,” she said.
Ms Chapman also said Agenda 21 would be a talking point.
The 23-year-old non-binding UN resolution suggests ways for governments and NGOs to promote sustainable development – but has become a lightening rod for the far right, which sees it as a step towards a global authoritarian state.
“We will also be talking about the United Nations generally and Australia’s relationship with that organisation,” Ms Chapman said.
Ms Chapman also listed family law and female genital mutilation as issues she would be campaigning on.
She said that the One Nation leader would attend several events in Bendigo over a number of days.
“There are quite a few disillusioned voters at the moment, a lot of people are waking up to the fact that we should have listened to One Nation, we should have listened to Pauline 20 years ago when she first spoke out,” Ms Chapman said.
“We have a fair bit of support here in Bendigo.”
“Obviously immigration is a major issue for us, we stand for no more mosques, no halal..."
- One Nation senate candidate Elise Chapman
Ms Chapman said she believed that the majority of Bendigo was willing to listen to One Nation but that she was wary of opposition from the “vexatious” left.
“Obviously we’ll have security there and anyone who is being disruptive will be ejected,” she said.
“We’re hoping there won't be [any trouble] but I wouldn’t be surprised – whenever people speak their mind the left mob can't help themselves, they have to wreck it.
“They can’t stand people who have different opinions.
“They’ve proven that with the rallies we had here in Bendigo – if people were allowed to march, to speak out and to do their own thing, there wouldn’t have been conflict.”
The $95 event is scheduled for Saturday, February 13 and Ms Chapman said places were still available after a number of tickets sold proved to have been from false accounts.
“I’d encourage anyone who was feeling patriotic and wanted to do the right thing to come along and show their support,” she said.