There are few things more personal than politics – except, perhaps, where you get your morning coffee.
And for One Nation’s Tasmanian state president Lee Hanson, the two have collided in spectacularly awkward fashion after one of her favourite local cafés announced that any money spent there by One Nation members would be donated to the Tasmanian Greens.
Hanson, the daughter of One Nation founder Pauline Hanson, has been a regular customer at Richmond Reading Room, north of Hobart, since the café opened nearly two years ago.
But her usual coffee run became considerably more complicated after café owner Dana Stevens took to social media to criticise a recent AI-generated One Nation advertisement.
The café’s post made reference to Hanson’s distinctive orange One Nation ute, which had regularly been seen parked outside.
“Unfortunately our coffee is so good that even One Nation members spend their money here,” the post read, before describing the business and its owner as “gay, indigenous-descended, trans-inclusive, pro-multicultural, anti-flag, pro-choice, anti-generative AI” and a Greens voter.
Then came the kicker.
“Any money spent by a member of One Nation will be donated directly to Tasmanian Greens.”
Hanson, who lives locally and said she had always enjoyed friendly interactions with staff, admitted the public declaration caught her completely off guard.
She said the post had left her “genuinely hurt”.
“If the owners had an issue with me coming into their business, why not simply talk to me?” Hanson wrote on social media.
“I am a person. I am a local. I am a customer who has supported your business for years.”
Hanson said she had deliberately supported the café because she believed in backing small Tasmanian businesses and had never previously felt unwelcome there.
“You do not have to agree with my politics. I would never expect you to,” she said.
“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 also questioned what she saw as a contradiction between the café’s support for inclusivity and its decision to publicly single out customers over their political affiliations.
“At least I now know where I stand,” she said.
The unusual dispute was sparked by One Nation’s latest AI-generated campaign video, titled It’s ok to come out … as a One Nation voter.
The video features a series of provocative political scenarios touching on migration, gender identity, Indigenous funding, renewable energy, crime and protests over Gaza.
The Richmond Reading Room said the video had left it “absolutely disgusted”, prompting its decision to redirect money spent by One Nation members to the Greens.
Tasmanian Greens deputy leader Vica Bayley defended the café’s response, describing the One Nation advertisement as “utterly despicable” and saying the party would welcome donations that met its rules.
The disagreement has clearly ended Hanson’s coffee habit at Richmond Reading Room, but she appears determined not to turn the episode into a campaign against the business.
Speaking after the controversy – over a coffee from another establishment, naturally – Hanson said she still hoped Richmond Reading Room would succeed.
“I don’t wanna ostracise that business … I still hope it does succeed for Richmond. I really do,” she said.
“I’m not going to turn against the business because I still want every business to thrive and I want it to thrive for Richmond’s sake.”
For its part, Richmond Reading Room has largely declined to fan the flames further.
“We’re just here to serve coffee and serve the community,” Stevens said.
Although, after this week, Tasmanians could perhaps be forgiven for checking where the proceeds of their cappuccino are headed before tapping their card.
