Pauline Hanson has held a $2000-a-head fundraiser for Melbourne’s elite at one of the city’s top restaurants.
It’s understood at least eighteen members of Melbourne’s business elite bought tickets to rub shoulders with the One Nation leader, who has spent Saturday, Sunday and Monday touring the state’s west, Melbourne, and Gippsland in the lead-up to November’s state election.
Sources say some industry leaders even paid $5000 for the honour of being seated next to the Senator, as she vented her frustrations about business conditions in Victoria.
The lunch began at noon at Vue de Monde, the award-winning fine-dining restaurant overlooking the CBD from level 55 of the Rialto Tower.
Speaking to the Herald Sun on Tuesday morning, the party’s Victorian leader Warren Pickering said “it’s a private event for industry leaders to speak with Pauline”.
“We won’t be sharing where it is because these are people who don’t want to be reported,” he said.
Among the guests spotted was former Victorian Liberal Party treasurer Andrew Abercrombie.
Asked on Tuesday if they were attending the fundraiser, one attendee happily confirmed he was on the guest list, but stopped short of sharing his name or occupation.
“I reckon that’s a bridge too far,” he said.
Another attendee told reporters he was invited, but would not be drawn on how much he paid for a seat.
But the cat was out of the bag by midday, with a media pack assembled by the time high-profile guests started to arrive at the tower for their lunch with Senator Hanson.
Speaking on his way out of the function, Mr Pickering refused to reveal who had paid top dollar to sit next to his boss.
“We had quite a few private conversations and I’m not going to elaborate further,” he said.
“It was a good opportunity to listen to a few professionals and industry leaders, I think you guys have already done your due diligence and found out (who was there),” he said.
Asked who was sitting next to Senator Hanson, Mr Pickering said “I’m not going to elaborate on that either.”
“You’ve got enough of an idea about what today was for.”
Mr Pickering was joined by his party’s state secretary Bianca Colecchia.
Other attendees seen leaving included businessman Ahmed Mahil.
“As someone with a business you want to listen to everyone,” the robotics company CEO said.
“You want to hear the policies and know how they will affect you … We need a bit more of a balance when it comes to the relationship between employer and employee.”
It comes after a whirlwind tour across the state in which the Senator visited Marnoo in the state’s west, and Gippsland to unveil new candidates and make a series of energy policy announcements.
The Senator told the Herald Sun she will be back before the November election, with plans in place for another tour in October.