One Nation volunteer in Victoria ‘lucky to be alive’ after alleged baseball bat attack on property

A political volunteer is “lucky to be alive” after allegedly being bashed with a baseball bat in Victoria for confronting two people who were believed to be damaging One Nations signs on his property.

The father of two young children remains in hospital following the incident on Sunday in the town of Torquay and is being treated for multiple facial fractures and bleeding on the brain.

Police have confirmed a 37-year-old Hampton Park man and 14-year-old boy were arrested following the alleged incident which occurred on Victoria’s Surf Coast.

“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.”

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has expressed outrage at the “vicious and savage violence” and says she has spoken to the alleged victim, describing his resilience as “unbelievable”.

“He believes in One Nation, what we represent, and he said he wants to go right back out there and put the signs up,” an emotional Senator Hanson told reporters.

Standing next to Senator Hanson, Victorian One Nation candidate Colleen Harkin described the alleged bashing as a “political attack” and a reflection of what was happening in the state.

“A savage attack on a person just because they’ve got a One Nation corflute on their own private property, and then I’m compelled to say ‘allegedly’ bashed a guy to unconscious state and then smashed every element of his car,” Ms Harkin said.

“He’s a self-employed person; he’s not able to work for weeks, possibly months. Who knows? You know, this kind of vicious and savage violence has to stop, and the consequences have to be made real,” she added.

Sources have told the Nightly the alleged attackers are believed to be New Zealand citizens and say they believe the victim was “lucky to be alive” following the Sunday incident.

A “Go Fund Me” page has been set up to help the man’s family cover expenses and support his recovery from the “brutal attack”.

“He runs his own business and is the family’s only income earner. While he is recovering, the family has no money coming in. His work vehicle was also badly damaged in the alleged attack,” the fundraising page states.

“His family should be able to focus on his recovery without the added worry of lost income, medical costs and everyday bills.”