One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and Queensland senator Malcolm Roberts have cancelled a planned event with a Jewish group on Sunday, citing security fears.
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The pair had been invited by conservative Jewish gym owner Avi Yemini to speak in the Melbourne suburb of Caulfield, in the heart of the city's Jewish community, about the "dangers" of Muslim migration to Australia, repealing race hate laws, and other controversial topics.
Protesters planned to greet the senators with a large rally on Sunday and it's understood organisers had been told by police they would need a sizeable private security presence to meet protesters.
Several Jewish groups, including Jews Against Fascism, had signalled their intention to protest against the event, calling on supporters to wear bright clothing and bring musical instruments.
"We remember what their hate looks like," an advertisement for the group's planned protest said.
In a joint statement, the One Nation senators claimed they and the Jewish community had been "intimidated" by "extremists".
"The Jewish community have been intimidated by the horrid and vicious left wing, chased from their communities, and forced to hide by these vile extremists," Senator Roberts said.
Protest spokeswoman Jordy Silverstein – who is Jewish, and who wrote her PhD on Holocaust memory – said the protesters wanted to highlight what happened when bigotry was left to go unchecked.
"Rather than us being silenced, I think the Jewish community is speaking really loudly about what kind of community we want to live in," Dr Silverstein said.
"The real reason the event was called off was the extent of Jewish community opposition to the event."
Mr Yemini said in a statement late on Wednesday it was "absolutely ridiculous" he had been forced to tell some 200 people registered for the event that it was too unsafe to go ahead.
"I had no idea that it would come to this and it is a truly sad indictment on our ACTUAL freedom to speak, to differ, to hold our own views in this country," he said.
"Make no mistake, this is a victory for the hard left and a blow to the peaceful and free country we all want to preserve."
On Wednesday, conservative columnist Andrew Bolt had called for a "showdown" against the "neo-fascist left" at the event, saying Victoria Police should take a stand against the left's "intimidation".
In turn, Victoria Police said they were aware that similar events had sparked violence, and urged attendees not to bring children or other vulnerable people to the event.
Late on Wednesday, One Nation Senator Hanson said her "high level of concern for the Jewish community's safety" was the primary reason for the cancellation of the event.
"We will review security arrangements and make another time to ensure the Melbourne Jewish community have their voice heard," she said.
The event had been mired in controversy from the beginning, with Glen Eira Council issuing a statement soon after Mr Yemini announced plans to hold the event, denying that there had ever been a formal booking to use one of its civic buildings for the function, and saying he could not use its town hall in Caulfield for the event.
In turn, Senator Roberts issued an extraordinary statement accusing the council – at which four of nine councillors are Jewish – of "deep-seated and appalling anti-Semitic behaviour".
Dvir Abramovich, chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, a Jewish organisation dedicated to fighting anti-Semitism, said such comments were "obscene" and undermined the memory of Holocaust victims.
