Fears Avalon Airshow will be targeted by anti-war protesters in scenes similar to Melbourne Land Forces expo riots

Geelong’s mayor has warned any violent anti-war protests at the Avalon Airshow like those at Melbourne’s Land Forces expo “will not to be tolerated”, as he blasted vandals who trashed Deputy PM Richard Marles’ office overnight.

Any violent anti-war or pro-Palestinian protests at Victoria’s upcoming Avalon Airshow — of the sort seen at Melbourne’s Land Forces military expo in Melbourne last year — “will not to be tolerated”.

Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj on Wednesday said any such protests during the airshow, from March 25 to 30, would be “completely unacceptable” and “anti-Australian”.

“There’s no room for that type of activism, and anyone who is doing that is being anti-Geelong and anti-Australian,” he said.

It cames as Mr Kontelj slammed anti-war protesters who vandalised the Corio electorate office of Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles overnight on Wednesday as “pathetic cowards”, amid fears protesters will also target the airshow.

There are fears the Avalon Australian International Airshow will be targeted by protesters.

Police told the Herald Sun they were “aware of potential protest activity in the metropolitan area throughout the week in the lead up to the Australian International Airshow”, and said they were “well prepared to respond swiftly to any incidents that may occur”.

Mr Marles, who is also Australia’s Defence Minister, on Wednesday discovered his office had been emblazoned with anti-war graffiti with slogans including “weapons out of Geelong” and “war crimes start here”.

A window was also smashed.

One of the slogans is the same as that used on banners by protesters at the Land Forces riots.

“They did it under the cover of darkness and that is pathetic and cowardly,” Mr Kontelj said.

“If they’ve got a view, they should have the courage of their convictions and put that view and let’s listen to that and have the debate, not sneak around smashing windows and putting taxpayers to expense when, ostensibly, they say they’re against violence, and then they’re using violence to make a point … all they’re doing is infuriating people against their cause.

“I am 150 per cent and unreservedly in support of the airshow as the mayor of Geelong and I’ll be doing whatever I can to promote Geelongs credentials as a defence advanced manufacturing capital because I want more defence industry in Geelong to create jobs.

“We need more jobs in the northern suburbs to lift people up from poverty.”

Protesters attacked Richard Marles' office in Brougham St, Geelong, daubing graffiti and smashing a window. Picture: Alan Barber

Demonstrators marching through Melbourne to protest against the Land Forces Expo. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

A huge police presence was needed at the Land Forces expo to beat back protesters. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Mr Kontelj told the Herald Sun the Avalon Airshow offered an unparalleled opportunity to entice defence manufacturing, and vital jobs, to Geelong’s disadvantaged northern suburbs and negative images of anti-weapons protesters at the event, beamed across the country and potentially world, would be anything but welcome.

Police have been preparing a massive security operation for the event which will play out just three weeks after an alleged hijacking attempt of a Jetstar flight at Avalon Airport exposed the lack of permanent Victoria Police or Australian Federal Police presence despite 800,000 passengers transiting through the airport each year.

“Victoria Police will have a significant presence at the Australian International Airshow to ensure the safety and security of all attendees,” a spokesman told The Australian.

“A range of police units will be deployed during the event, including general duties officers and specialist units including the Public Order Response Team, Highway Patrol, and Water Police.”

Anti-war activists set bins on fire among other acts at the Land Forces expo. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Tens of thousands of defence industry experts and the public will flock to Avalon from next Tuesday to witness cutting-edge fighter planes, such as Australia’s F35 fighters, and other military capabilities on display.

There are a number of Israeli-linked military development companies exhibiting at the airshow including Israeli Aerospace Industries which develops combat systems, drones and electronic warfare systems.

Elbit Systems of Australia — a subsidiary of Israeli defence technology firm Elbit which develops combat systems, electronic warfare capability, drones and weapons systems — will also exhibit at the event.

The Avalon Airshow attracts scores of aviation enthusiasts.

The airshow’s public days are from Friday March 28 to Sunday March 30.

The Land Forces military expo in Melbourne last year was the scene of violent protests as pro-Palestinian activists clashed with police.

About 50 protesters were charged by police with many facing charges of affray, obstructing police and animal abuse over their actions that also saw rubbish bins set on fire.

Police made more than 100 arrests outside the three-day Land Forces weapons expo at the Melbourne Convention Centre in September. Some protesters hurled rocks, horse manure, eggs and glass bottles at police, injuring almost 30 officers and a dozen horses.

The Herald Sun has contacted the The AMDA Foundation, which organises the international airshow, for comment.

Originally published as Fears Avalon Airshow will be targeted by anti-war protesters in scenes similar to Melbourne Land Forces expo riots