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Australia news as it happened: Hanson, Joyce attend fundraiser at secret Melbourne location; Trump calls off Iran strikes; World Cup kicks off in Mexico City

Cassidy Knowlton, Bridie Smith and Emily Kaine
Updated ,first published

Key Posts

Neo-Nazi arrested outside One Nation event
Attendees cheer passing ‘Fire the liar’ truck as they wait to enter event
Former Nationals leader’s widow shocked at Hanson’s claims
Plans for One Nation fundraising event in Melbourne scrapped
Ariana Grande slams White House over ICE video: ‘Heinous’
Ebola outbreak spreads to new health zones
Hanson says PM ‘lying again’ with claims donations are fake
ALP president says One Nation fundraiser ‘a huge smoke screen’
Pinned post from 6.40am on Jun 12, 2026
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What’s making headlines today

By Emily Kaine

Thank you for joining us today, Friday, June 12. We’ll be back with our national blog on Monday morning.

Here’s a recap of the main events from today’s national coverage:

  • One Nation leader Pauline Hanson told a glitzy Melbourne fundraiser that her far-right party would work with a future Coalition government in Victoria, after One Nation played a cat-and-mouse game with anti-racism protesters who chased the event to a new venue after an eleventh-hour venue change.
  • Political lobbyists and corporate representatives with privileged access to Parliament House will be publicly identified under a major overhaul of the parliamentary pass system, ending decades of secrecy around who can roam the building’s private corridors.
  • Britain’s defence minister John Healey quit hours before he was to meet his Australian counterpart, Richard Marles, in England to outline their ambitions for the crucial AUKUS alliance on nuclear-powered submarines.
  • US President Donald Trump called off strikes in Iran and hinted at an “approved” Middle East deal. However, he said the naval blockade would remain “until this transaction is finalised”, with the time and place of the signing to be announced.
  • And the 2026 FIFA World Cup has kicked off in Mexico City, with host nation Mexico defeating South Africa in the first match of the tournament and South Korea winning over Czechia. The Socceroos will play their first match on Sunday against Turkey.

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Hanson escapes out the back door, avoiding protesters

By Fiona Byrne and Angus Delaney

Pauline Hanson has left the venue, escorted by security out a back entrance to avoid waiting protesters.

Fans gave Pauline Hanson a rock star reception. Fiona Byrne

Partygoers are also finishing up their sliders, arancini balls and polenta sticks and making their way out into the Melbourne night.

Most of the protesters have departed too, with police keeping those who are left well away from the One Nation supporters.

This concludes our coverage for today. We will return on Monday morning to continue our rolling news coverage.

Hanson promises to work with the Coalition, as fans get selfies

By Fiona Byrne

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson told the crowd she would work with the Coalition, if One Nation secures enough seats in the upcoming Victorian state election.

“I’m going to give you the opportunity to vote for someone other than the two major parties,” she said. “But I will work with a Coalition government because who needs to go is the toxic Labor government.

Fans pose for selfies with Pauline Hanson at a One Nation fundraiser.Fiona Byrne

“Change is on the way. You know why? I always said, it is people power that makes the change.
Each and every one of you has the ability to stand up and have that voice. Stop being suppressed. Stop shutting down.

“There’s this underground movement that’s happening. People say, ‘We have enough. We’ve had a gutful’,” Hanson said. “We want change. And people constantly come up and say to me, ‘Pauline, you are our last hope. Pauline, we want you to try and give us that future that we’re crying out for.’

Protesters target Hanson supporters exiting venue

By

Three One Nation supporters exited the fundraiser for a smoke outside the venue and were immediately spotted by the protesters.

“All One Nation supporters are worthless,” they called out.

Minutes later, two couples separately exited the venue and were surrounded by a group of protesters taking photos and speaking disparagingly to them.

Police rushed to facilitate the exit of one couple, an elderly man and woman.

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Neo-Nazi arrested outside One Nation event

By Sherryn Groch

There’s been a late gatecrasher to the fundraiser, as protesters beating drums and chanting outside the One Nation event suddenly swarmed three neo-Nazis who arrived outside the venue.

Police lead prominent neo-Nazi Michael Nelson away from protests outside the One Nation fundraiser.Simon Schluter

When asked by this masthead why he had come to the event, neo-Nazi Michael “Mickle” Nelson said: “I’m here supporting One Nation, yes. Australia for the white man!”

Nelson and two other members of the now-outlawed National Socialist Network were quickly rounded up and marched away by police as protesters rushed at them, screaming for police to arrest the “Nazi scum”.

Nelson later reappeared near the venue entrance as guests were leaving, but was quickly handcuffed and marched away by police. Police at the scene would not say why he was arrested, but Victoria Police has been contacted for comment.

One Nation loyalists rub shoulders inside

By Fiona Byrne

Spotted inside the glitzy event were some of One Nation’s staunchest supporters, including Lee Hanson, Pauline’s daughter, Adam Giles, the CEO of Hancock Agriculture and former chief minister of the Northern Territory, and Mark Nicholson, the creator of the Please Explain cartoons.

Other guests included Toorak socialite Virginia Gibson, comedian Elliot Loney, Hanson’s chief of staff James Ashby, prolific buyer of houses on The Block Danny Wallis, Hancock Prospecting media advisor James Radford, and Rikki-Lee Tyrrell, One Nation’s sole seat holder in the Victorian parliament.

Three One Nation supporters from the party’s Greenvale branch attended wearing witch’s hats baring the phrase “Fire The Liar”, a reference to a new anti-Labor ad campaign popping up around Melbourne.

Three guests wear witch hats at the One Nation fundraiser, a nod to the “Ditch the Witch” anti-Jacinta Allan campaign.Fiona Byrne

A truck with the “Fire The Liar” billboard on its tray also did laps around the venue.

Protesters turn their ire on police

By Angus Delaney

The last ticket holders for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation fundraiser have entered the building.

The group of about 50 protesters across from the building are now directing their chants at police assigned to keep them apart from the attendees. Some yelled ugly, anti-police slogans.

“We hate cops, we love animals,” a protester yelled.

Another protester walked up and down the line of police using their phone and flash to closely film officers’ faces and badge numbers.

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Attendees cheer passing ‘Fire the liar’ truck as they wait to enter event

By Sherryn Groch

While Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce were quickly whisked inside the One Nation fundraiser, those who paid hundreds of dollars for a ticket have been left out in the cold facing a growing crowd of protesters.

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The line of attendees is growing outside the venue as more protesters arrive in cars, having travelled across town from Moonee Ponds, where the original rally was planned.

The number of police is growing too.

“I wonder when they’ll open the bar,” laughed one guest.

A cry suddenly went up from guests waiting outside as a truck emblazoned with a “Fire the liar” ad rolled by.

Protester tailgates partygoer, leading to tense police standoff

By Angus Delaney

Police have intervened after an anti-One Nation protester driving a car tailgated the vehicle of a person attending the event.

The driver, whose cars bore Palestinian flag bumper stickers, leaned on the horn and pulled up alongside the attendee, yelling out the window. The attendee asked police to intervene, and an officer banged on the front of the protester’s car and asked her to leave.

There were a tense few moments, but the protester soon complied. “She nearly hit me,” one police officer said after the vehicle drove off.

Protesters outside the venue have received reinforcements, with one banging loudly on a drum.

Across the road, and behind a line of police, One Nation supporters are entering the venue. Tickets are being carefully checked at the door.

Protesters gather outside the fundraising event

By Angus Delaney

A group of protesters have gathered outside the One Nation fundraising event.

The group are holding anti-Hanson banners and chanting: “No racists, no fear, Hanson is not welcome here.“

Police and protesters outside the event on Friday night.Angus Delaney

Across the road, a line of police officers stand in front of ticket-holders waiting enter the venue.

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‘Do you think I’d be deterred by protests?’ Hanson says she changed venues for different reason

By Sherryn Groch and Fiona Byrne

One Nation’s fundraiser is kicking off in Melbourne’s inner south, across town from its original venue after anti-racism protesters vowed to “drive out” leader Pauline Hanson.

While a small group of demonstrators still found the new, top-secret spot, Hanson claimed the venue had been changed at the last minute for another reason entirely. “We had too many bookings, people wanting to come,” she told reporters outside, as cries of “Nazi scum off our streets!” rang out from a protester.

“So that’s why we had to change location. Do you think I’d be deterred by the protesters?” She said Victorians were crying out for change as crime rates rose, and Premier Jacinta Allan would struggle to hold her seat at this year’s state election.

One Nation’s Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce (right) arrive at a Melbourne fundraiser on Friday night.Simon Schluter

At Hanson’s side was Barnaby Joyce, who said Australia was a free country and the party would not be deterred by activists.

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