It says plenty that women wanting to speak about their rights being eroded need police protection

The antics of these far left simpletons are an enormous waste of police resources and if they want to keep causing havoc in the CBD they should cop the bill.

Victoria has become the epicentre of a particularly odious and entitled group of far left malcontents.

I’m not talking about the Jacinta Allan government but the highly unpleasant, fringe-dwelling simpletons who routinely cause havoc in the CBD, and beyond, protesting everything from the weather to Middle East conflicts to biological realities.

It’s essentially the same neo-Marxist mob whether they’re marching under the Extinction Rebellion, pro-Palestinian or trans lobby banner; the same intolerant activist class that feels entitled to block roads and attack ideological opponents.

On the weekend they attacked a group of diverse women, from across the political spectrum, who had gathered to call for female only spaces to be protected, and for a halt to radical gender treatments such as puberty blockers and irreversible surgeries.

There is an intolerant activist class that feels entitled to block roads and attack ideological opponents. Picture: Tony Gough

Of course, that sparked the trans activists into action.

They showed up seeking to intimidate or silence those taking part in #WomenWillSpeak and would have succeeded if not for dozens of police officers.

There were violent clashes when the trans activists tried to break through police lines protecting the women’s rights campaigners, resulting in two trans activists being arrested.

It says plenty about the poisonous political climate in this state that women wanting to speak about their rights being eroded need police protection.

Trans activists showed up seeking to intimidate or silence those taking part in #WomenWillSpeak. Picture: Tony Gough

Even the heavily politicised Victoria Police hierarchy has had a gutful of the activists and wants a permit system for those wanting to hold rallies.

The activists may not contribute much in taxes but their antics are very expensive; since October 8, about 7500 police shifts have been needed to cover 315 protests about the Middle East conflict alone. Add climate, anti-Australia Day and trans protests and it’s an enormous waste of resources.

In the past Victoria Police has been happy to bill conservative and right-wing speakers for the cost of policing their events even though it’s the leftist activists, and not ticketholders, who are the source of the unrest.

But when it comes to race, climate and trans activists, the taxpayer picks up the tab.

It’s time for a measure of accountability. By all means protest peacefully but if you seek to attack or obstruct people going about their business then you should pay a price.