Protesters barred from Labor Chinese Town Hall event in Box Hill

A Labor Party “Chinese Town Hall” in Melbourne on Wednesday night has sparked claims “white Australians” were prevented entry.

A Labor Party ‘Chinese Town Hall’ in Melbourne on Wednesday night has sparked claims “white Australians” were prevented from entering — but police say they simply had “invalid tickets”.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong and former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews were keynote speakers at the event in Box Hill on Wednesday evening, which also featured local federal Labor MPs Carina Garland and Mary Doyle, and candidates Gabriel Ng and Matt Gregg.

Box Hill, in Melbourne’s east, has one of the country’s densest Chinese populations, with nearly half of its 14,000-plus residents in the 2021 Census reporting Chinese ancestry.

“Local Labor MPs and candidates sincerely invite you to attend as they share the latest developments on issues of concern to the Chinese community, especially the efforts and achievements of the Labor federal government in improving Australia-China relations, with guest speakers Hon. Senator Penny Wong and former Premier, Daniel Andrews,” the event listing read.

“We look forward to meeting you. Your participation is welcomed!”

A flyer for the event. Picture: X

A “pop-up rally” had been organised on Facebook by anti-lockdown activists prior to the event “to show Andrews we will never forget and never forgive”.

Around 150 to 200 protesters gathered outside the venue. A number brought anti-Chinese Communist Party (CCP) signs and some attendees reported feeling unsafe, news.com.au understands.

Footage from Wednesday, shared by right-wing content creator Chris De Bruyne, aka Chriscoveries, showed a number of people being barred from entering and a heavy police presence at the doors.

“Chinese only?” De Bruyne wrote on X.

A number of protesters were denied entry. Picture: X

“An ‘open doors’ meeting for the Chinese in Australia’s Box Hill shut to all others? Groups of Chinese enter unhindered while white Australians are refused all reporting similar stories — tickets invalid unless from the Chinese social network WeChat.”

“We’re here to attend what’s a public meeting,” one woman said in the video, adding she was told her ticket “wasn’t valid”.

There was a heavy police presence. Picture: X

De Bruyne later filmed Ms Wong exiting the event, shouting at her, “Why weren’t Australians allowed in tonight to this event? Why were only Chinese people allowed in?”

Anti-CCP activist Drew Pavlou called it a “bizarre display of sectarian politics in Australia”.

“Even if it was a Chinese community event, why can’t anybody attend?” he wrote on X.

Ms Wong’s office declined to comment.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Picture: X

A Victorian Labor spokesman said in a statement the event was organised “as part of Labor’s outreach to the Chinese community to understand their concerns ahead of the federal election”.

“Connecting with multicultural communities is normal and important for any political party,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that protestors sought to disrupt the event. We thank Victoria Police for ensuring the event was able to proceed safely.”

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said, “A private rally was convened by the Australian Labor Party at Box Hill Town Hall on March 12. Approximately 150-200 people congregated outside the venue, with a number attempting entry with invalid tickets. No offences were identified by police and meeting attendees left the venue without incident.”

WeChat, owned by technology company Tencent, is used by up to three million people in Australia and for many is their key link to family and friends in China.

But national security experts have long warned the popular messaging app is a national security risk due to its heavy control, surveillance and censorship by the CCP.

A report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) think tank in 2020 warned WeChat was a key driver of the CCP’s influence in Australia, particularly through its influence over Chinese-language media.

“The PRC’s ability to censor and monitor WeChat is perhaps the single most effective and concerning factor in the CCP’s influence over Chinese-language media in Australia,” the report said.

The report warned that the app’s role in Australian elections, particularly in marginal seats with large Chinese-speaking populations such as Chisholm and Reid, was a growing concern due to the lack of adequate oversight or regulation, including measures to combat disinformation.

Victoria Police sparked controversy in 2019 after Box Hill Police Station raised the Chinese flag to honour the 70th birthday of the People’s Republic of China.