VCCI acting chief: Our city cannot continue to be paralysed by those who put their causes above the livelihoods of others

Enough is enough. Our political leaders must prioritise the rights and considerations of all Victorians, not just those with the loudest voices.

Our city is being held to ransom.

Instead of basking in the glow of the Australian Open this weekend, Melbourne will once again be paralysed by chaos as 30,000 protesters are expected to swarm the CBD.

With the eyes of the world upon us, we should be showcasing what we can offer as a sporting capital, events capital, culture capital, food capital and fashion capital, not the protest capital.

With more than 180,000 restaurant bookings, hotels at capacity and tourists with money to spend at our stores, we have the chance to shine.

Melbourne will once again be paralysed by chaos as 30,000 protesters are expected to swarm the CBD. Picture: Getty

Instead, city businesses will have to adapt to the disruption, streets will be gridlocked, footpaths choked and people will be deterred from coming in.

We are fortunate to live in a country where freedom of speech is protected and people are free to express their views.

But what about the rights of the small business owners who rely on foot traffic to make enough income to pay their bills and their staff?

What about the rights of workers who can’t get to their jobs, tradespeople and delivery drivers who lose valuable time, people who miss their medical appointments or the mobility-impaired who find themselves unable to traverse the streets?

City streets will be gridlocked, footpaths choked and people will be deterred from coming in. Picture: Getty

Protests also come at a significant cost to the taxpayer in the form of police resourcing, traffic management and impact on various modes of transport.

When organisers want to hold celebratory parades in Melbourne, they are required to pay for permits, traffic management and police resourcing.

Why don’t protesters face the same requirement? The principle is simple: if you want to disrupt the city for your cause, you should be responsible for the costs. It’s only fair.

Melbourne cannot sustain this constant disruption.

Week after week, our city absorbs the cost of these protests – not just financially, but socially and emotionally.

There’s an ominous feeling in the air when you walk through the CBD on a Sunday.

Families are hesitant to come in, workers are anxious about their commutes and business owners are frustrated and fed up.

There’s an ominous feeling in the air when you walk through the CBD on a Sunday. Picture: Nadir Kinani

Worse still, these protests are giving rise to racism and xenophobia, further eroding our values, rights and freedoms.

And then there’s the disturbing spectre of foreign interference.

Experts have raised concerns that international actors may be stoking tensions, using protests as a tool to destabilise communities. This is not just troubling – it is a threat to our democracy and cohesion.

Our city cannot continue to be paralysed by those who continuously and consistently put their causes above the livelihoods of others.

This is a time for our leaders to take tangible and pragmatic action.

We need them to prioritise the rights and considerations of all Victorians, not just those with the loudest voices.

Other cities around the world have implemented practical solutions to balance the right to protest with the need to maintain order.

It’s time for our leaders to take tangible and pragmatic action. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Designating specific areas for protests – away from the CBD’s heart – strikes a balance between the right to protest and the pragmatic need to keep the city functioning.

Cities, like Hong Kong, have implemented such measures to great effect. In New York and London, large-scale protests require permits, ensuring that organisers are accountable for the disruption they cause. In Washington DC, the Residential Tranquillity Act imposes time constraints on protests, striking a balance between the rights of protesters and the practical impacts on residents.

Move-on powers that were effectively used during the Covid protests could be reinstated and used in the same way.

Police must have the authority to prevent key areas of the city from being blocked, ensuring traders, workers, customers and residents can go about their lives.

This weekend should be a celebration of everything that makes Victoria the best place to live, work and run a business in the world – not to mention the tennis.

Melbourne is a city of resilience, creativity and inclusivity.

We cannot let it become a city defined by protests, disruption and division.

Enough is enough.

It’s time to protect Melbourne’s heart and soul.

Chanelle Pearson is Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Acting Chief Executive