A 60-year-old One Nation volunteer remained in Geelong Hospital on Tuesday in a serious but stable condition after Victoria Police say he was assaulted with a baseball bat outside his Torquay home on Sunday evening.
Investigators told reporters the incident began when a 14-year-old boy was damaging One Nation signage on Scorpio Street in the Surf Coast shire. The volunteer went outside to confront the teenager and, according to police, was set upon by the boy and a 37-year-old man from Hampton East who had travelled to the property.
What police say happened
Police said the assault occurred about 7:45pm. The volunteer’s wife and children witnessed the attack and called triple zero. When officers arrived, the pair were allegedly damaging the volunteer’s vehicle; both were arrested at the scene and the property was declared a crime scene.
The volunteer was taken to hospital with injuries police initially described as non-life-threatening. Local media reported he suffered serious head injuries, facial fractures and internal bleeding. A Victoria Police spokesperson confirmed on Monday that the man was in a serious but stable condition in Geelong.
The Hampton East man was charged with intentionally causing injury and related assault offences. He appeared in the Geelong Magistrates’ Court and was remanded to return on 10 November. The teenager received a formal caution. Police have asked anyone with footage or information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Political context on the Surf Coast
The attack landed in the final week of campaigning before Victoria’s state election on 29 November. One Nation is running candidates in several regional seats, and Pauline Hanson launched the party’s Victorian campaign in October with events along the coast.
A party spokesperson said One Nation was “deeply concerned” about the assault and that “political violence of any kind is unacceptable.” The spokesperson confirmed the injured man was a volunteer but declined to identify him publicly, citing privacy and the ongoing investigation.
Leaders from other parties condemned violence against campaign workers regardless of affiliation. Premier Jacinta Allan did not comment on the specific case but told Melbourne radio on Monday that intimidation of volunteers “has no place in our democracy.” Opposition leader John Pesutto said anyone engaged in political activity should be safe on their own street.
What investigators are still establishing
Police have not said whether the accused pair knew the volunteer before Sunday. News outlets reported they live more than 100 kilometres from Torquay; investigators are examining whether the visit was planned or opportunistic.
Detectives from the Geelong crime investigation unit are leading the file. They are canvassing doorbell and dashcam footage from Scorpio Street and nearby roads that fill with holiday traffic during the spring long weekend.
For Torquay residents, the episode is a sharp reminder that local sign wars can escalate quickly. Until police conclude their work, the volunteer’s family is asking for privacy while he recovers—and both major parties are urging supporters to report vandalism through official channels rather than confrontations that can turn violent.