A political volunteer is “lucky to be alive” after allegedly being bashed with a baseball bat in Victoria for confronting two people who were believed to be damaging One Nation signs on his property.

The father of two young children remains in hospital following the incident on Sunday in the town of Torquay and is being treated for multiple facial fractures and bleeding on the brain.

Police have confirmed a 37-year-old Hampton Park man and 14-year-old boy were arrested following the alleged incident which occurred on Victoria’s Surf Coast.

“Investigators have been told the males allegedly assaulted the victim at a premises on Scorpio Street about 7.45pm,” a police spokesperson said.

“It is believed they allegedly assaulted the man with a baseball bat before being arrested by attending units a short time later.”

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has expressed outrage at the “vicious and savage violence” and says she has spoken to the alleged victim, describing his resilience as “unbelievable”.

“He believes in One Nation, what we represent, and he said he wants to go right back out there and put the signs up,” an emotional Senator Hanson told reporters.

Standing next to Senator Hanson, Victorian One Nation candidate Colleen Harkin described the alleged bashing as a “political attack” and a reflection of what was happening in the State, where law and order issues loom large over the November 28 poll.

“A savage attack on a person just because they’ve got a One Nation corflute on their own private property, and then I’m compelled to say ‘allegedly’ bashed a guy to unconscious state and then smashed every element of his car,” Ms Harkin said.

“He’s a self-employed person; he’s not able to work for weeks, possibly months. Who knows? You know, this kind of vicious and savage violence has to stop, and the consequences have to be made real,” she added.

Senator Hanson said that her party volunteer was allegedly kicked while he was on the ground and lost consciousness.

She said the alleged attackers – a teenager and his father – were “walking along the highway” before the attack.

“Apparently their car had been impounded and they were just going for a walk,” she said.

Sources have told the Nightly the alleged attackers are believed to be New Zealand citizens and say they believe the victim was “lucky to be alive” following the Sunday incident.

Senator Hanson said she did not want to politicise the attack but claimed the “slap on the wrist” given to the teenager, who was issued with a caution, was “the problem with Victoria”.

“Whether … Ben Carroll gets back in as premier or whether it’s Jess Wilson or whether it’s One Nation that we actually have some say in this state … all of us have to be doing better than what is happening now in this state when it comes to crime,” she said.

A GoFundMe page set up to help the man’s family cover expenses and support his recovery was given a boost when an X post about the incident was shared by the social media site’s owner, trillionaire Elon Musk.

Close to $160,000 had been raised as of Tuesday afternoon.

“He runs his own business and is the family’s only income earner. While he is recovering, the family has no money coming in. His work vehicle was also badly damaged in the alleged attack,” the fundraising page states.

“His family should be able to focus on his recovery without the added worry of lost income, medical costs and everyday bills.”

Victorian Premier Ben Carroll said he was in conversations with police and the electoral commission about security arrangements ahead of the November 28 election.

“That is shocking. It should never be occurring,” the Premier said of the latest incident.

“Whether you’re wearing a red, blue, orange or green T-shirt, they are volunteers. They are out there doing what they believe is what’s right.

“And no one should be coming under attack. Let’s have a civil, peaceful election.”

Opposition Leader Jess Wilson condemned the attack which she described as “absolutely appalling”.

“My thoughts are with the victim and his family, and I wish him a full and speedy recovery,” she said.

“Every Victorian has the right to express their political views and support the party of their choice without fear of violence or intimidation,” she said.

“We can disagree strongly about politics, but violence is never the answer.