Angry backlash over Greens MP’s anti-war protest stunt

Jacinta Allan has lashed Greens MP Gabrielle de Vietri as calls grow for her to resign after she blew off parliament to attend a violent anti-war protest.

Pressure is mounting on embattled Greens MP Gabrielle de Vietri to resign after she blew off parliament to attend a violent anti-war protest in which dozens of police were injured.

Despite alarming early reports of activists hurling horse faeces and rocks at police, Ms de Vietri mounted her push bike outside parliament about 9.45am on Wednesday to address the thousands of anti-war protesters.

But as the Premier Jacinta Allan led calls for her resignation and protesters clashed with hundreds of police, Ms de Vietri pulled the pin on her speech, returning to parliament before Question Time.

The Greens MP’s failed stunt – one of many in recent months – prompted major backlash on Wednesday.

Ms Allan said if Ms de Vietri “can’t turn up and do her job” she should “hand back the keys to her office”.

“You’re not elected to run off and join political stunts for your own divisive political purposes,” she said.

Greens MP Gabrielle de Vietri’s failed stunt sparked a major backlash in parliament. Picture: Getty Images

Leader of opposition business James Newbury labelled the Greens MP “scum of the earth” in an extraordinary speech, demanding that the government unite with the Coalition to suspend her from parliament.

Mr Newbury unleashed on Ms de Vietri in the chamber, accusing her of inciting violence by urging protesters to “disrupt” the expo.

“We cannot have a dangerous activist sitting in this chamber,” he said.

“How long can we have a member of this parliament who is breaching the fundamental principles of what we stand for?”

Mr Newbury said Wednesday’s rally had conjured up the “most disgraceful behaviour from the scum of the earth”.

“And the member for Richmond is one of them,” he said.

He said Labor had repeatedly ignored calls from the Coalition to take action against her, despite Ms de Vietri’s behaviour “escalating”.

Premier Jacinta Allan led calls for her resignation. Picture: David Beach

Last year, the Greens MP was booted from parliament for two days after taking a selfie with climate activists who had disrupted Question Time.

In August, she allegedly got busted illegally using her mobile phone while riding her bike.

“What will it take before the government will say to us, yes we will work with you on ensuring that behaviour is appropriate?” Mr Newbury said.

Ms de Vietri, who refused to stand down, said the Premier and opposition “clearly haven’t been paying attention”.

“Being an MP is about listening to the community and if the Premier understood that she would’ve listened to the tens of thousands of people who wanted this weapons expo cancelled,” she said.

Greens Leader Ellen Sandell labels Ms de Vietri’s presence at the protest admirable. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Victorian Greens Leader Ellen Sandell called her colleague’s presence at the protest “admirable” and blamed Victoria Police for the violence.

In a statement on Wednesday, Ms Sandell said she had written to IBAC requesting an inquiry into the police tactics and “excessive use of force” at the Land Forces protests.

She said multiple protesters had been injured by police.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto called the Victorian Greens “utterly delusional”.

“It’s delusional to think that it’s up to Victorian Police to de-escalate the activity of people who are engaged … in violence and other depraved acts like throwing horse manure at Victorian police officers,” he said.