A One Nation supporter in her 60s has been hospitalised with a broken rib after being attacked by a group at Brisbane's Ekka on Friday.
The victim, a grandmother dressed in One Nation-branded clothing, was spat on and kicked while working at a display at the venue. Queensland Police are investigating the assault, which is believed to have involved several offenders.
Speaking in Canberra on Monday, One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce condemned the violence, describing the incident as part of an increasingly toxic political environment. He said the woman had been spat on, punched, and kicked during the confrontation.
"We have an elderly lady wearing a One Nation T-shirt who was spat on, punched and, I think, kicked. She had a rib broken," Joyce said. "This is Australia. You don't start belting up old ladies, breaking their rib, spitting on them and calling for the murder of people and then somehow validate that you have a virtuous principle in what you do."
Political hostility condemned
Joyce argued that hostility towards One Nation supporters had been normalised by the media, warning that a wider pattern of political hostility was emerging.
"This is Australia, and people seem to think it's somehow different because the victim was wearing a One Nation shirt," Joyce said. "There's a zeitgeist that has developed around politics that has brought about a real viciousness and a real violence."
The MP pointed to a recent student protest where demonstrators were filmed saying "Kill Pauline Hanson," arguing that such rhetoric was unacceptable in a democratic society. "This is Australia. What the hell's happening here?" he said. "Why are people talking about killing politicians? Who else do we want to kill in this building today?"
Pauline Hanson's One Nation is a right-wing political party in Australia. Canberra, Australia's capital city, hosts the national Parliament where federal lawmakers meet for legislative sessions.
Police investigation and venue context
Joyce rejected any suggestion that the attack should be dismissed because it involved a One Nation volunteer, insisting that all political participants deserve safety under the democratic process.
"People say, 'Well, it's just One Nation, don't worry about that'. No, we do worry about it," Joyce said. "This is a political debate. There is a democratic process and people have a right to vote however they wish."
He added that political beliefs could never justify physical violence against individuals. "You don't start belting up elderly women, breaking their ribs, spitting on them and calling for the murder of people, then somehow convince yourself you're acting from some virtuous principle," he said. "You're not. You're a very violent, horrible and disgusting person."
A spokesman for Queensland Police said officers were aware of an altercation at the Brisbane Showgrounds on 14 August. The spokesman added that no formal complaints had been made to police at this stage.
The Ekka, formally known as the Royal Queensland Show, is an annual agricultural event held at the Brisbane Showgrounds in Queensland. The exhibition features agricultural displays, commercial stalls, and political information booths.
