Woman pushed to ground in scuffle outside One Nation election event

Police were called in after a woman was knocked to the ground in a scuffle outside a ticketed One Nation event for ex-AFL footballer turned election candidate John Barnes on Saturday.

Nine News captured footage of the woman and a man lying entangled on the footpath outside the Ascot Vale Neighbourhood Centre in Melbourne’s north-west, moments after the woman was denied entry. Barnes was hosting a sausage sizzle for dozens of One Nation supporters inside.

After picking herself up from the ground, the agitated woman was blocked from entering the event by another woman dressed in a bright orange One Nation t-shirt.

Police attended the scene and said the woman was hurt but did not require medical treatment.

“There was a disagreement between the female passerby and a person at the event,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

Police are investigating and have asked anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.

The Age also sought entry to the event but was denied access. Barnes declined an interview request, stating that party leaders had directed him not to speak with the media.

He apologised and said he was looking forward to speaking once the gag is lifted, although he couldn’t say when that would be, only that it would be closer to November’s state election.

The political event was attended by a few dozen mostly middle-aged and older One Nation supporters.

A woman in a One Nation t-shirt, who identified herself as an accountant but declined to state her name, approached journalists outside the centre and said One Nation supporters were sick of the media “reporting bullshit” about the right-wing minor party.

“Are you going to say that these are small business people?” she said.

Barnes, a former Essendon premiership footballer and sitting Moonee Valley councillor, is One Nation’s candidate for the Labor-held seat of Essendon.

The former Geelong and Essendon ruckman suffers from post-traumatic epilepsy and is one of more than 100 former footballers pursuing a class action against the AFL, claiming they have acquired brain injuries from concussions sustained while playing.

He has previously said his epilepsy and memory loss inhibits his ability to perform basic tasks such as driving.