Gilme Mengesha said Senator Hansen’s note, which said “Ignore it,” was not an apology. (ABC News: Stephen Schubert)
A Melbourne social housing resident said he was disappointed when One Nation beer bottle covers were delivered to his quarantined apartment complex shortly after he learned that Pauline Hansen had called residents “junkies” on television.
It was revealed that after appearing on a morning television program, Ms. Hansen attempted to deliver goods to residents of several apartment buildings. During the program, she referred to these residents as “drug addicts” and “alcoholics.”
Senator Hansen made the comments amid controversy surrounding the strict lockdown of nine Melbourne social housing towers – a show that subsequently led to the cancellation of her regular guest appearances.
Shortly after, Ms. Hansen sent several residents of the apartment buildings a beer mug with the One Nation logo, along with the phrase “I have the courage to say what you think” and a handwritten note saying “Ignore it.”
All 114 parcels were sent to “residents” but were never delivered to the residents inside the tower.
Tower resident Gilma Mengesha said the senator’s actions were “disappointing” but also concerned that the decision to prevent the delivery of goods was influenced by outside forces.
The One Nation party has reportedly sent beer fridges to 114 residents of an apartment building in a Melbourne lockdown zone. (One Nation)
”I don’t think anyone would read the label on that bottle or use it. Personally, I’d throw it in the trash,” he said.
ABC reached out to Senator Hansen’s office for comment, but received a response from Ms. Hansen on Twitter, where she called it “a mountain out of a molehill.”
The Age newspaper today published excerpts from an email sent by Australia Post lawyer Nick McDonald to the company’s Melbourne chief executive Justin Hanni on Saturday, July 11.
”We understand that the parcels were duly delivered by Australia Post on Thursday morning in accordance with the arrangements in place under the lockdown.”
”In particular, after Australia Post staff received clear assurances that the parcels would be promptly delivered to the recipients by command post staff, the parcels were delivered to the command post lobby of the building.”
”If we do not receive confirmation, we will consider what further steps need to be taken to resolve this situation, including whether to notify the police or other appropriate authorities.”
Australia Post issued a statement today saying they had sent the parcel to a control centre run by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the City of Melbourne and raised the issue when the parcel was not delivered.
The statement said: “We subsequently learned that the goods had not reached their destination, so we have raised this issue with the City of Melbourne and have been in good faith in contacting the sender to resolve the issue.”
In a statement, Mr Hanni said the committee had consulted with Australia Post and lodged a complaint with the Australian Federal Police to investigate whether these standard single-address parcels breached federal criminal law.
Mr Hanni said that after the City of Melbourne stopped delivering parcels to the residential area, they contacted Australia Post to collect the parcels and withdrew their complaint to the Australian Federal Police.
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), following advice from local residents, it was decided not to distribute beer bottle covers inside the tower.
It is clear that this gift was considered culturally inappropriate and could have worsened an already tense situation.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has learned that ensuring residents have access to medicine, sufficient food and other essentials is a top priority during the lockdown.
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Post time: Jul-16-2026