One Nation has been forced to relocate a planned fundraising event to an undisclosed location in Melbourne after the original venue decided not to host it due to anticipated protest activity. The event was scheduled to feature One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce.
A spokesperson for the party confirmed to Guardian Australia on Friday that the fundraiser would be moved from Giorgio Casa, a bistro in Moonee Ponds, following concerns raised by Victoria Police about potential protests. The spokesperson noted that the event was sold out but declined to specify the number of expected attendees.
Victoria Police stated that officers were not aware of any specific threats against the event and emphasized that the decision to cancel was made solely by the venue.
Top News
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- Australia lost three wickets before scoring a run in a historic ODI defeat to Bangladesh.
- France, Germany, and the UK push for peace talks in Moscow.
- Australian sprinter Jemma Stapleton, a Stawell Gift finalist, has died aged 25 on a family holiday.
World Cup 2026
South Korea rallied from a goal down to defeat the Czech Republic 2-1, making a winning start to their World Cup Group A campaign. The victory delighted their fans and the sizeable local Mexican support in Guadalajara. Next up, Canada faces Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday at 5am AEST.
Meanwhile, the Socceroos addressed growing anti-immigration sentiment in a powerful video message ahead of the World Cup, expressing pride in their heritage and their commitment to playing for the national team. Matt Hughes reports from Mexico City that the nation's opening World Cup victory party was marred by violent clashes outside the Azteca stadium before kick-off, as ticketless fans and protesters attempted to gain entry.
In Pictures
After leaving Venezuela, Luisana and Ana spent five years in Peru waiting for their new lives to begin. As refugees in a same-sex relationship without citizenship protection, they feared for their safety. Approved for resettlement in Australia, the couple was matched with volunteers from a Melbourne community group called Rosie's Welcome. They are among nearly 1,000 people resettled in Australia through the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Program (Crisp), finding safety and community quickly.
What They Said
"At the moment, we have a very low number of defamation or legal cases against the ABC and that's the way I'd like to keep it." – ABC managing director Hugh Marks, who acknowledges lessons from two high-profile legal losses but maintains the ABC under his leadership faces few lawsuits.
Podcast
Will Labor's NDIS changes become a reality? The Albanese government proposes major changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme to cut spending and reduce participant numbers. Advocates and Australians with disabilities have heavily criticized the proposals during a three-day Senate inquiry. Shadow NDIS minister Melissa McIntosh discusses her concerns with political editor Tom McIlroy.
Before Bed Read
Conflict journalist Nigel Brennan recounts his harrowing experience of being held hostage in Somalia for a year. "With endless hours to think in my 462 days of captivity, I realized all that mattered was family and friends," Brennan writes. "Now I'll never take them for granted."
Daily Word Game
Today's starter word is: NUMB. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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