Senator Pauline Hanson hosted a high-profile fundraiser on Tuesday at Vue de Monde, an upscale restaurant located on the 55th floor of Melbourne’s Rialto Tower. The ticketed event, priced at $2,000 per head, attracted approximately 20 business leaders from sectors including small business, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, and robotics. The gathering was organized in conjunction with Warren Pickering, the Victorian leader of Hanson’s One Nation party, following a similar fundraising event the previous day in regional Sale.
According to a One Nation insider, the luncheon focused primarily on the challenges posed by excessive regulation and bureaucratic red tape affecting businesses. The event offered attendees an opportunity to discuss issues important to the Victorian business community and provide feedback on the party’s emerging policy platform. The source noted that higher ticket prices were paid by some participants to secure premium seating close to Senator Hanson.
The fundraiser is understood to be a response to growing interest from Victorian industry figures toward engaging with One Nation amid the party’s rising profile ahead of the state election. The source highlighted an increased willingness within the business sector to interact with the party, anticipating that One Nation candidates may win a significant number of seats and potentially hold the balance of power in the state legislature.
When asked about the event, Warren Pickering declined to disclose specific details, emphasizing the private nature of the discussions and declining to identify attendees. “We had quite a few private conversations. I’m not going to elaborate too much more on what was discussed, but it was a good opportunity to listen to a few professionals and industry leaders,” he said.
The Australian Hotels Association’s chief executive, Stephen Ferguson, confirmed he attended the lunch, describing it as a routine engagement across political lines. Ferguson stated that migration policy was a prominent topic during the event, with Senator Hanson addressing the need to boost apprentice employment in a 20-minute speech. He supported Hanson’s focus, noting concerns over declining apprentice enrolments in the hospitality sector.
Ferguson also proposed reinstating a policy previously in place, which would allocate proceeds from a government levy imposed on hospitality businesses employing skilled foreign workers toward subsidizing apprentice wages. The suggestion aims to encourage greater participation in apprenticeship programs amidst labor shortages.
The event underscores One Nation’s efforts to cultivate stronger ties with key segments of the Victorian economy as the party positions itself for the upcoming election battle.