Disturbing footage has emerged of White Australian locals being refused entry to a Labor ‘Chinese Town Hall’ event in Melbourne, even though they had tickets.
Videos sourced by Chriscoveries show confused attendees being turned away from the meeting in the Chinese-dominated suburb of Box Hill on Wednesday night, where Foreign Minister Penny Wong spoke and former Premier Dan Andrews cancelled at the last minute.
While some ticket-holders were told they could not go in, others of Asian appearance could be seen being allowed to pass through a line of Victoria Police officers stationed at the doors.
Chinese Only?
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.
After the event… pic.twitter.com/HrQzRiicxq— Chriscoveries (@Chriscoveries) March 12, 2025
Noticer News understands that all of those denied entry had booked their tickets through the Trybooking platform, while those who were let in had booked through Chinese social media app WeChat.
The event was advertised in English and Chinese, but images from the inside the meeting show much of the signage was in Chinese, including a slogan on the lectern where Wong spoke which read “vote Labor and protect your health with free GPs!”.
“We’re here to attend what’s a public meeting,” one of those refused entry told the camera, and went on to explain that she signed up online, got her ticket in the mail, and turned up only to be told the ticket “wasn’t valid”.
After the event one of the men who was not allowed in filmed himself yelling out to the foreign minister as she left.
“Penny Wong, why has Labor been restricting freedom of speech for Australians?” he asked.
“Why weren’t Australians allowed in tonight to this event? Why were only Chinese people allowed in?”
Wong ignored the questions and was ushered into the backseat of a waiting car by security.
Freedom Party President Morgan Jonas later said on X that he was among those denied entry despite having a valid ticket.
Is Labor racially profiling?
Tonight, several people and I were denied entry to Box Hill town hall where Dan Andrews was scheduled to speak – despite having valid tickets.
I happened to notice that those who were denied entry, with very few exceptions, were White Australians.… pic.twitter.com/J7WatE0ZEX
— Morgan C. Jonas 🇦🇺 (@morgancjonas) March 12, 2025
“I happened to notice that those who were denied entry, with very few exceptions, were White Australians,” he said.
“I also know for a fact (because my Chinese Australian friends were granted admission) that event staff were indeed allowing-in people who had not booked tickets in advance, if they happened to be of East Asian appearance.
“Why the double standard? The only rational conclusion I see is that Labor engaged in racial profiling. You might think I am making this up, but I am not. I saw it with my own eyes. If I am wrong, Labor is welcome to set the record straight.”
The event listing on Trybooking read: “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-Chinese relations, with guest speakers Hon. Senator Penny Wong and former Premier, Daniel Andrews. We look forward to meeting you. Your participation is welcomed!”
Last month the leaders of both major parties turned up at in Box Hill, where the Chinese flag was once raised over the police station, to pander to Chinese voters ahead of the upcoming federal election and pledged hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the Lunar New Year festival.
At the time of the 2021 Census, just 15.5% of Box Hill residents said they were of Australian ancestry, compared to 39% whose background was Chinese. 23.5% of the suburb’s population was born in China, along with 5% in Malaysia, and 2.2% in Hong Kong.
Since then, about 2 million immigrants have arrived in Australia, most from India but closely followed by those from China. The massive surge occurred despite repeated polls showing a majority of Australians want immigration cut.
Header image credit: Chriscoveries.
