One Nation’s Tasmanian state president, Lee Hanson, says being publicly singled out by her local coffee shop over her politics “genuinely hurt”, after the business pledged to donate any money spent there by One Nation members to the Greens.
In a post to social media this morning, Richmond Reading Room owner Dana Stevens said that any money spent there by a member of One Nation “will be donated directly” to the Tasmanian Greens.
The post asked readers whether they had seen “the latest one nation ad” and felt “absolutely disgusted”.
“You’ll likely feel the same way when you see the orange ute outside our coffee shop,” the post read, referring to the branded One Nation ute Lee Hanson drives.
She described the business as being “owned and run by a gay, indigenous-descended, trans-inclusive, pro-multicultural, anti-flag, pro-choice, anti-generative AI, Greens voter”.
The post was signed “Lots of love, Dana”.
In a post to her own social media this afternoon, Hanson said the shop was a local favourite and was a regular stop for her since it opened.
“I have always been greeted warmly, enjoyed stopping in and deliberately chosen to spend my money there because I believe strongly in supporting local Tasmanian small businesses,” Hanson said.
“If the owners had an issue with me coming into their business, why not simply talk to me?” Hanson said.
“I am a person. I am a local. I am a customer who has supported your business for years.”
The One Nation state president said people did not have to agree with each other’s politics.
“But surely we have reached a pretty sad place when someone’s political beliefs determine whether their presence or their custom is considered acceptable,” Hanson said.
“The irony of preaching inclusion while publicly singling out customers because of their political association is difficult to ignore.”
Hanson said support for local Tasmanian businesses would continue, “just not businesses that publicly make people feel unwelcome because they happen to hold different political views”.
Responses to the cafe’s post were divided, with some commenters praising the cafe’s stance while other’s criticising the fairness.
“All the love for you guys standing up against hatred,” one comment said.
“This doesn’t feel very inclusive and seems like the opposite sentiment of all the titles you gave yourself Dana…tolerance and inclusivity for all or some,” another wrote.
The Tasmanian Greens’ official Instagram page commented on the post with four green love heart emojis.
Vica Bayley, the deputy leader of the Tasmanian Greens, said his party welcomes the donations from the cafe.
“We’re going to support anyone that gives us a donation, provided they’re within our set of values and within our party’s rules,” he said.
“We would … happily accept money from a cafe owner who supports our policies and the things that we stand for.”
