Police officers pelted with rocks and glass bottles as violence erupts at protests in Melbourne CBD
A Victoria Police commander has vented at the “appalling” behaviour of violent activists who targeted police officers in what he said was “a bad day for Victoria Police and a bad day for Melbourne”.
Senior police have slammed cowardly left-wing protesters for violent clashes that left officers wounded as opposing crowds converged on the CBD in a dark day for Melbourne.
Just days after Premier Jacinta Allan declared Melbourne’s CBD was safe after a string of violent incidents, fury within the police force boiled over with a top cop declaring “enough is enough.”
In a press conference following the violent scenes on Sunday afternoon, an enraged Victoria Police North West Metro region Commander Wayne Cheesman blamed the “issue-based groups on the left” for most of Sunday’s violent clashes.
He dramatically held up a rock hurled at police by “cowards” that were part of an anti-racism counter protest.
“It’s not a small rock … these rocks cracked some of our shields today,” Mr Cheesman said.
“Today was a bad day for Victoria Police. Today was a bad day for Melbourne.
“Melbourne has had a gutful.
“They throw them as hard as they can at police, but it’s got to stop.
“Bins were on fire, flags were on fire.’’
Holding the large rock, Mr Cheesman said Sunday’s violent clashes were reminiscent of the notorious Land Forces protest in September last year, where officers were wounded and police horses sprayed with substances.
“It appals me, really,” he said.
“This could kill someone – that’s the bottom line.”
One female Sergeant suffered a broken hand, while a male Senior Constable was left with a laceration to his leg, which the Herald Sun understands was a result of being glassed.
Officers were pelted with rocks, glass bottles and fruit, while other members were struck by flying objects that were thrown so aggressively, they cracked their police-issue protective shields.
Mr Cheesman’s emotive comments came after right-wing, anti-immigration March for Australia protesters gathered at Parliament House, while anti-racism protesters descended on the State Library just before midday.
Victoria Police North West Metro region Commander Wayne Cheesman shows media the rocks that were thrown at police today. He says left-wing, “issue-based†demonstrators were mostly responsible for the violence that unfolded in Melbourne’s CBD today @theheraldsunpic.twitter.com/qFhZ4r7Lob
— Olivia Jenkins (@byoliviajenkins) October 19, 2025
The anti-racism group repeatedly fought with officers as they stopped the group from entering laneways and side streets to confront the March for Australia crowd.
Police could be seen tackling demonstrators to the ground, using pepper spray, detonating stun grenades and firing rubber bullets in an attempt to control the crowd.
“The disruption to Melbourne, to businesses, we need to find an answer as to what we do.”
Mr Cheesman said the right-wing March for Australia rally was an overall peaceful march through the city.
“We don’t come to work to be assaulted, we don’t come to work to have these rocks thrown at us,” he said.
“There are people who legitimately come to protest, but there are people who don’t.”
One photo shared with the Herald Sun showed some of the large rocks that protesters had armed themselves with to hurl at police.
“They were throwing them at the police and the horses,” an officer said.
“They weren’t picking them up off the road. They brought them in with them – that shows the premeditation.
“If one of these hit an officer in the head, it would cause serious injury or death.”
Some March for Australia demonstrators chanted racist slogans while waving Australian flags, which Mr Cheesman said would also be investigated by police in line with Victoria’s anti-vilification laws.
Organisers of the so-called anti-fascist rally doubled down on their protest, saying in a statement on Sunday night they were “proud”.
“We condemn the violent acts of Victoria Police,” rally organiser Anneke Demanuele said.
“We are appalled by the comments of police commander Wayne Cheesman who praised the far-right hate march.”
Ms Allan on Friday said: “It shouldn’t even need repeating that the CBD is a safe and welcoming place to live, shop and work.
“Of course it is safe – millions of people use it every week without incident and it’s renowned as one of the world’s most liveable cities.’’
A survey of Herald Sun readers found 97 per cent did not think Melbourne’s CBD is safe.
Mr Cheesman said he respected people’s right to gather and protest, but police and the wider Victorian community were fed up with the relentless weekly protest actions, saying they were a massive resource drainer for a police force already grappling with a major retention issue.
“It happens every week without fail,” he said.
“We have enough problems with the crime crisis.”
Lord Mayor Nick Reece on Sunday night said: “enough is enough”.
“What we are seeing on the streets of our great city is a form of civic insanity.
“It’s now a weekly routine for many of these people. Their weekend recreation.”
Hours earlier, Housing Minister Harriet Shing doubled down on the state government’s stance on CBD safety, saying the city was “thriving” and “vibrant”, despite admitting she had never attended the CBD during a rally,
When asked if she had ever attended an anti-Israel protest on any Sunday over the last two years, Ms Shing responded with: “No”.
Pressed how she was then qualified to speak on the matter of protests, Ms Shing fired back: “well, I just said to you, I’ve just spent the weekend in the city, I think that the hundreds of thousands of people who are in and around the city will be able to attest to their experiences moving around a metropolitan environment that is thriving,” she said.
City of Melbourne councillor Rafael Camillo lashed the state government’s approach to managing tensions.
“People are feeling unsafe, we don’t need to have that feeling in the city,’’ he said.
Mr Cheesman said a group of about 50 protesters were responsible for most of Sunday’s violence, but it would be difficult to track them all down.
Just one man was arrested for the alleged assault on the female officer whose hand was broken.
More arrests were expected to follow the protest action.
