Independent MP Monique Ryan intervened after a punch was thrown as far-right agitators gatecrashed a political forum in Melbourne’s south-east. 

Locals were hearing from their Kooyong candidates — Ryan, Clive Crosby from Labor and Jackie Carter from the Greens — speak about the state of the media at Kew Library yesterday evening, when three men entered the room.

Video shows one of the men, identified as Matt Trihey from the National Workers Alliance, yelling about immigration and crime and demanding that the candidates address the issues.

“We’re just here to ask about immigration and crime,” he could be heard saying. 

The National Workers Alliance is a self-described “nationalist organisation for the preservation of Western culture and identity”. 

Trihey denies that he is a neo-Nazi but was once a member of Thomas Sewell’s white nationalist group the Lad’s Society.

Trihey is seen in the video continuing to shout and ignore the people trying to move him along as members of the crowd begin to appear frustrated.

A woman stood up, letting out the first of several screams, and a man shouted at Trihey to “get out”.

“Who do you think you are coming in here? Get out,” he said. 

Ryan told ABC Melbourne Radio today that what seemed to distress the audience was that the men began shouting about rape.

“It was all a bit incoherent, but it was threatening, and it was really unfortunate because many members of the audience were a little bit older and really taken aback by the events, and clearly a bit threatened by them,” she said.

A woman then confronted Trihey and threw a punch.

Another woman and Ryan quickly intervened and pulled her back.

“She was a little lady, pretty frail, and he was not a small man, and I was really concerned about that and their potential for that to escalate,” Ryan told ABC Melbourne Radio.

“I went away and just firmly moved her away and asked another member of the audience to look after her.”

The men were finally forced out of the building, but seemed to taunt the civic-minded members of the public. 

“Have a wonderful day, yeah,” Trihey said.

“I hope I haven’t spoiled your evening, guys. I just want answers on who’s going to act on crime.”

Victoria Police were called to the library about 6.30pm.

“Officers spoke to the men and at this stage no further complaints have been made to police. The investigation is ongoing,” police said.

9news.com.au has contacted Ryan, Crosby and Carter for comment.