Myer confirms Christmas windows launch remains cancelled amid threat from pro-Palestine activists to reinstate protest
Calls are growing for the Allan government to crack down on protests after pro-Palestine activists threatened to derail the unveiling of Melbourne’s beloved Myer Christmas windows.
Victoria
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Calls are growing for the Allan government to implement a tough crackdown on CBD protests after Pro-Palestine activists threatened to derail the launch event of Myer’s Christmas window display if the retail giant tried to push on with its annual festivities.
Opposition Leader John Pesutto on Friday slammed the state government’s inaction to put an end to the blight of ongoing demonstrations that continue to hurt local traders.
“If I were Premier today, I would be working with Victoria Police to issue whatever declarations need to be issued to protect places like this,” he said.
“It’s not good enough for the Premier to be angry and furious about it, do something about it.”
It comes as Premier Jacinta Allan and Lord Mayor Nick Reece condemned “moron” protesters who planned to converge on Bourke Street Mall on Sunday, prompting Myer to cancel the launch of the windows — a longstanding Melbourne tradition — due to the risk to customers and staff.
By Friday morning, a group called Crash the Christmas Windows — understood to be a splinter group of the larger Disrupt Wars protest movement — said they would not go ahead with their threatened action “in light of Myer’s decision” to pull the pin.
But when later asked by the Herald Sun if the group would reinstate plans to disrupt the event if Myer announced it would press on with Sunday’s formal launch event, defiant protest organiser Amy Settal said: “Yes”.
It came after Ms Settal’s earlier comments saying the group had not wanted to target children as part of their controversial plans to disrupt the family-friendly event.
“The intention was to interrupt the media spectacle and economic gain sought by Myer,” Ms Settal said in a statement on Friday.
“The children coming to see the Myer Christmas windows were never a target, because children are not a target.
“In light of Myer’s decision to cancel their window reveal event, planned disruptions will not go ahead.”
A furious Jacinta Allan slammed the group while promising that new anti-vilification laws – which she refused to detail – would crack down on divisive behaviour.
But the laws won’t be debated in parliament until at least February, with Ms Allan saying they were still subject to Cabinet deliberations and meaning there will be no change to police powers to intervene in protests until that time.
Ms Allan said the proposed laws would be made public over the next fortnight ahead of their introduction to the parliament.
The Premier, who previously shutdown the idea of introducing permits to protest similar to those in NSW, said on Friday there was no need to consider introducing the system for protesters or the reintroduction of tougher move on powers for police.
She said that view was shared by chief commissioner Shane Patton.
“Let’s have a dose of reality when we discuss this matter,” Ms Allan said.
“Do we really think the same sort of morons who want to disrupt beautiful Christmas tradition for families are going to apply for a permit? They won’t.
“Everyone has the right to come together to add their voice in demonstration about a particular issue.
“What comes with that right is not a right to divide, not a right to cause division, not a right to hate.”.
Critics of the government from within Melbourne’s Jewish community have long argued the government has been too slow to act to stop hate-fuelled protests.
Members of Melbourne’s Jewish community urged Myer to “reinstate the event” but the retailer did not respond to questions on Friday.
The move to cancel the protest action was welcomed by members of the police force, Jewish community and state government but it has raised questions about the need for a protest permit system — similar to the one in use across New South Wales.
Lord Mayor Nick Reece expressed his outrage at the cancellation of the unveiling and said “all options” needed to be considered to combat the ongoing protests.
“This is a small group of people seeking to divide and cause disruption,” he said.
“They are the minority — and Melbourne is bigger than a noisy minority.
“The current situation of weekly protests and disruptions is unacceptable and cannot continue.
“We need to look at workable interventions and investigate what works. All options need to be on the table.”
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner of North West Metro Tim Tully said he was “pleased to hear” the group — that was largely unknown until Thursday — had a “change of heart”.
He said they were a “splinter group” of the larger pro-Palestine crew who hold rallies in the city each Sunday.
They did not respond when asked about any potential plans to hold rallies at other events in Melbourne over the next few weeks.
Retailers fed up with CBD protests
Frustrated shop owners in Melbourne’s CBD say pro-Palestinian protests are depleting businesses and forcing them to move location.
Runway Secrets owner Skye Jackson told the Herald Sun she had no choice but to move her clothing store from Bourke St to Collins St due to the disruptions.
“We were on Bourke St last year and for a lot of days we may as well not have traded,” she said.
“We moved on January 1 this year given all the things that were happening.
“It’s been really difficult. It’s completely depleted the business.”
Ms Jackson said Melburnians and tourists were turning their backs on the city.
“No one is coming to the city anymore given it’s quite stressful, especially people with children hearing all of the commotion,” she said.
“A lot of people are quite afraid. It’s got to stop, it’s so disruptive, it’s quite frightening.”
Street Taste manager Izac Elizondo said the state government should implement designated protest areas.
“I think it would be great to have them in specific spots, it would be much better for businesses,” he said.
“Every single Sunday our business on Elizabeth St is impacted by protests, everything is blocked.”
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief Paul Guerra said the protests were putting businesses at risk.
“We should be able to live our lives in Melbourne without the threats given by protesters,” he said. “People are nervous about coming into the CBD. Businesses don’t want to see these ongoing protests, residents don’t want to see these ongoing protests either.”
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