Melbourne’s Black Lives Matter rally went ahead because police feared riots

Police allowed Melbourne’s Black Lives Matter protest to go ahead despite the coronavirus pandemic because of fears of civil unrest.

Police allowed Melbourne’s Black Lives Matters protest to go ahead despite fears about spreading coronavirus because authorities feared cancelling the event would lead to riots.

Victoria Police chief commissioner Shane Patton said his “main aim” was to focus on public order because “we had between 10,000 and 20,000 people who were intent on marching”.

Thousands of people turned out for the protest in June as Victoria was eased out of its first lockdown, despite pleas to stay away.

“We eventually made a decision to reluctantly allow the Black Lives Matters event to go ahead because of the emotion that was in the community and because of what we had seen in communities across the world,” Mr Patton said.

“We’d had arson, we’d seen looting, we had seen assaults.

“We’ve seen cities that were damaged.”

Police say the Black Lives Matter protest should not have gone ahead. Picture: AFP

Commissioner Patton told parliament’s Public Accounts and Estimates Committee on Wednesday the protest’s three organisers were issued fines of $1652.

It was also revealed just 2806 of almost 40,000 COVID fines had been paid in full.

Mr Patton said 4869 had been withdrawn or cancelled, with the potential for more to be struck off if they didn’t “pass the commonsense test”.

He said the 1553 fines issued to children aged 14-18 could also be reviewed on the same basis.

“The number of fines issued to children had been, and would have been only because of deliberate obvious and blatant breaches,” he said. “I would review under guidelines in the first instance to say does this pass the commonsense test; should this really be an issue that could have been dealt with a different way?”

The protest was ‘reluctantly’ approved for fear of civil unrest.

His comments came after outgoing Attorney-General Jill Hennessy told the Victorian parliament last week fines for people under the age of 18 amounted to $3m and would not be waived.

Meanwhile, Police Minister Lisa Neville said police had clearly used discretion during the pandemic.

“As case numbers grew, so did their enforcement,” she said. “That shows police did the right thing. They got the balance right.”

Crowds packed the Black Lives Matter rally in Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

Protesters taunt Victoria Police during the rally. Picture: AAP

Opposition police spokesman David Southwick said the number of unpaid and withdrawn fines showed a failure on the government’s behalf.

“With almost twice as many fines withdrawn as have actually been paid, the confusion and inconsistency of Labor’s COVID rules couldn’t be clearer,” he said.

“Given ongoing legal challenges, rule backflips and inconsistent enforcement, is it any wonder so many Victorians are refusing to pay?”

Originally published as Melbourne’s Black Lives Matter rally went ahead because police feared riots