One Nation claims staffer left hospitalised after assault

One Nation claims staffer left hospitalised after an assault at the Royal Queensland Show A One Nation staffer was injured during an assault at the Royal Queensland Show on Friday, according to the party. One Nation chief of staff James Ashby told 4BC a staffer in her 60s was on her way to the party's stall when she was verbally assaulted by three women and a man, before the situation escalated and the staffer was punched in the ribs. "She now has one broken rib, she's got enormous bruising and she's had to go through the unedifying process of having to strip down in front of police so that they can take photographs of her injuries," Mr Ashby said. He said the staffer had been released from the hospital over the weekend. In a social media post, the party said a "much-valued female member of the One Nation team was physically assaulted by a group of three young women and one young man at the Ekka festival in Brisbane, leading to a broken rib". "One Nation would like to condemn this violent attack in the strongest possible terms. The attackers should be ashamed of themselves," the statement read. "The matter is with the Queensland Police and is currently being investigated." Queensland Police Service said it was aware of the allegations, but had not received a formal complaint. Mr Ashby said it was his opinion the staffer had been targeted due to her One Nation shirt. "These are the same young women who demand respect for women, especially when it comes to domestic violence, and yet they stood by, spat on her and allowed their male counterpart to lay vicious blows on her to break a rib," he said. He told the AAP the woman was "set upon with foul language" after walking through the gates. "She ignored them, and as she continued walking they called her an ignorant (expletive) and that's when they set upon her." The staffer was recovering after being hospitalised but was badly bruised and shaken, Mr Ashby said. "She's really shaken and extremely sore. Broken ribs aren't fun," Mr Ashby said. "I don't want any of my staff feeling that way." Queensland Ambulance Service said it had no record of ambulances dispatched to the Ekka for a woman in her 60s with injured ribs on either Thursday or Friday. RNA chief executive Brendan Christou said the organisation had been made aware of an alleged incident by QPS. "The safety and wellbeing of our visitors, exhibitors, staff and everyone involved in the Show is our highest priority, and this allegation is extremely concerning," he said. "The Ekka is a family-friendly event and we do not condone any form of violence." He said the RNA will assist police in any inquiries.