Senator Fraser Anning visits Hahndorf’s German Arms; pub denies it was them on Facebook; owner says they didn’t know it would be him

The owner of a Hahndorf pub that hosted a candidate announcement for Fraser Anning’s Conservative National Party says he and staff didn’t know it was for the controversial politician.

Senator Fraser Anning (right) leaves a press conference at the German Arms Hotel in Hahndorf. Picture: AAP / Kelly Barnes

The owner of a Hahndorf pub that hosted a candidate announcement for Fraser Anning’s Conservative National Party says he and staff didn’t know it was for the controversial politician.

The Queensland Senator, who drew national vitriol for comments he made about Muslim immigration in the wake of the Christchurch terrorist attack announced the latest lot of his South Australian candidates to contest the Federal Election at the German Arms hotel on Friday.

The candidates Mr Anning announced were former United Australia Party candidate Adrian Cheok for Boothby and Rajan Vaid for Hindmarsh.

In the wake of Mr Anning’s candidate announcement in Hahndorf, the second time he has come to the town on the campaign trail after he announced Peter Manuel and Tim Dwyer for the Senate last month, people have questioned the German Arms on their Facebook page and in personal messages as to why they let the far right politician hold an event there.

In one response the German Arms’ Facebook page says “you have the wrong hotel in Hahndorf. It was not the German Arms”.

Fraser Anning introduces his candidates at the German Arms in Hahndorf. Picture: Tom Huntley

This is despite photos taken by media show Mr Anning leaving the German Arms and a photo by Professor Cheok of him talking with Mr Anning showing a table number with the German Arms’ branding.

Other social media users claimed their posts questioning the hotel were deleted.

The German Arms is owned by South Australian family owned and operated company the Francis Group.

When contacted by The Advertiser Wayne Francis, who is currently interstate, said he was unaware of the denials by the German Arms’ Facebook page.

He said he didn’t know it was Mr Anning holding an event at the German Arms on Friday.

“We got told there was a politician coming,” he said.
“I don’t think they knew it was going to be him to be honest.

“We certainly don’t hold or share any of his views.”

Fraser Anning introduces his candidates Peter Manuel Rajan Vaid and Adrian Cheok at the German Arms in Hahndorf. Picture: Tom Huntley

Mr Francis said a number of other politicians had used the German Arms for events.

The candidate announcement by Mr Anning was originally going to take place at the Old Mill in Hahndorf, the venue he used for his first visit to the town.

It took place just a week after Mr Anning held a press conference at Cronulla, in which a far-right activist teenager was charged with assaulting a news crew.

Television crews had security at Mr Anning’s event at the German Arms.

When asked why he again chose Hahndorf as a place to hold an event in South Australia Mr Anning - who has also called for a “final solution” to Muslim immigration in Australia during his maiden speech to the Senate - said it was because the town known for its German influence “was a nice place”.