Climate activists undeterred upon return on final day of IMARC
The state opposition’s bid to “send the strongest possible message” by introducing new laws that would make a jail sentence mandatory for anyone who harms or threatens a police horse, have been shot down in Parliament.
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Melbourne’s disruptive climate protesters have wrapped up their week of demonstrations after wreaking havoc at the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC).
But they caused one final act of chaos in a march up Spencer and Collins streets around 11am, disrupting CBD traffic and trams.
Protesters stopped outside the Rio Tinto offices at 360 Collins Street before 11.30am, chanting “f--- you” directed at the mining giant.
After wrapping the protest up, activists disbanded and went to a nearby pub for a celebratory drink and to plan the next disruption.
Tram services along Collins St have resumed.
Activists dressed as Prime Minister Scott Morrison and mining magnate Gina Rinehart earlier earned cheers from the group.
The crowd applauded them and broke into another chant: “ScoMo’s a w---er.”
“We’ll be back,” the defiant group has chanted, vowing to gatecrash a dinner tonight attended by IMARC conference attendees.
The group insists it will not be deterred despite what they claim were heavy-handed policing tactics at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre yesterday.
Many are wearing face masks and bandannas to conceal their identity from police, and officers have searched crates of goods that activists brought to the protest.
A small group also soaked T-shirts in paint in a bid to ensure police officers don’t touch them.
A ringleader said it was a “peaceful” protest.
“We’re not going to get near the ramp. We are not trying to block anything,” the leader said.
Activists moved to a different entrance of the Convention Centre around 10am and were face-to-face with police.
MEET THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE MINING PROTESTS
But they were mistakenly blocking the entrance to a caravanning conference.
“You think we are all hippies with no jobs,” one protester said. “We are real people.
“We’re doing your job, we are protecting the people. There is no escaping this.”
Earlier, other protesters have told police to “get a real job” and hurled profanities at the working officers.
“You are f---ing dogs,” one protester barked.
A man in a wheelchair also caused trouble by parking himself in the middle of the road.
Many protesters have come prepared for the possibility of being capsicum sprayed, wearing face coverings.
The group has chanted “IMARC, blood on your hands”, accompanied by a cowbell.
Two protesters also followed the mounted brigade and mimicked horse movements which has attracted laughs from the protest group and perplexed looks from police.
One protester dressed as a police officer is blowing bubbles at officers lined up outside the IMARC conference. Numbers are slowly building ahead of the conference kicking off its final day @9NewsMelb pic.twitter.com/NRHq4k3im7
— Steph Anderson (@_StephAnderson) October 30, 2019
NEW LAWS TO STAMP OUT POLICE HORSE CRUELTY SHOT DOWN
The state Opposition this afternoon attempted to introduce new laws in parliament to make it an offence to harm or threaten a police horse.
The Opposition proposed that the offence would carry a penalty of 12 months in jail.
“Targeting police horses in a violent protest is one of the lowest acts and not acceptable in Victoria,” Opposition police spokesman David Southwick said.
“This proposed new offence will send the strongest possible message that we will not tolerate this violent behaviour of animal cruelty.”
“This afternoon we are calling on all members of Parliament to join with the Liberal Nationals in supporting this common sense and overdue change to make violence against police horses a criminal offence.”
The reform was defeated in parliament, 22 votes to 18, late on Thursday afternoon .
MINISTER BACKS POLICE ACTIONS
Police Minister Lisa Neville said police were “well prepared” for this climate protest as well, as next week’s Melbourne Cup.
“I fully support what police are doing,” she said on 3AW radio. “I was aware (police) had certainly well prepared for this.
“Now they’re very well prepared for the Cup as well.”
Ms Neville called for protesters to “respect our police”.
“They are just doing their jobs,” she said. “I don’t even know what the protest is about anymore.
“We don’t want to see these sort of scenes in Melbourne. They are very different, they don’t talk to police.”
Ma Neville said police would use a “range of intelligence” to monitor protesters who may disrupt the Melbourne Cup.
“If they’re going to go and down there and disrupt the Melbourne Cup, they will see similar arrests.”
It comes as police have identified serial protesting pests and fear they will disrupt Melbourne Cup week starting this Saturday.
These individuals have now been placed under police surveillance and if arrested, could be subject to court issued banning notices from the Flemington Racecourse precinct.
There have been more than 107 arrests so far outside the mining conference, including 17 yesterday.
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One was arrested for covering their face with a scarf, which police alleged was to hide their identity while committing a criminal act.
Two protesters climbed support poles outside the convention centre; one was arrested but the other ran off.
Another two activists were arrested for gluing themselves to the road.
One protester who came from NSW to join the demonstrators faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last night after being arrested twice in two days.