ABC security in fight with protester, scenes subdued outside Land Forces weapons expo

Tensions outside a weapons expo have not ignited like they did on Wednesday when horse manure and acid were thrown at police.

Police are making full use of special powers to stop and search people on the street as tensions outside a Melbourne weapons expo pale in comparison to wild and violent scenes from the day before.

After 42 protesters were arrested on Wednesday and police were hit with balloons and bottles filled with acid and vomit, police are cracking down with the use of special search powers.

Peaceful protesters are telling media they are being stopped and searched, some repeatedly patted down.

While about 2000 protesters showed up on Wednesday, barely 200 gathered at various spots outside the Land Forces Defence Expo at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Thursday.

Protesters are however expected to gather for a rally on Bourke St at 4.30pm on Thursday.

Ahead of the three-day, expo police were granted powers to tell people to remove face masks, look into bags and conduct random weapons searches.

Under Victoria’s Control of Weapons Act, the chief commissioner can designate a zone in which police can search people without a warrant for a limited period of time.

Inside the convention centre, the second session of the three-day event was taking place, with Australian Army chief Lieutenant General Simon Stuart talking about changes in military tactics and culture.

The protest crowd was barely 10 per cent as large as it was on Wednesday. Picture: NewsWire / Nadir Kinani

In Canberra on Thursday, Defence Minister Richard Marles announced some Australian officers who commanded forces in Afghanistan would be stripped of their distinguished service medals.

The medals were stripped because of “arguably the most serious allegations of Australian war crimes in our history”, the Mr Marles said.

While scenes at Melbourne the expo on Thursday were relatively peaceful, that did not stop some protesters carrying on their poor form and being aggressive towards media.

An ABC security guard brawled with a protester live-on air in the morning.

As reporter Stephanie Ferrier delivered a live-cross one of the reporter’s security guards was seen scuffling with a protester.

A protester and an ABC security guard got into a scuffle live on air. Picture: ABC 24

There were repeated instances of people acting aggressively towards media on Wednesday and at least once again on Thursday. Picture: ABC 24

In the clip the protester walks in front of the camera when the security guard pushes them away.

The protester then appears to swing at the security guard.

Another security guard steps in and shoves the protesters.

Another protester can be seen breaking up the fight and urging the pair to “calm down”.

“At the moment, we’re obviously trying to report on this and we’re getting a little bit of difficulty here,” Ms Ferrier says.

Scenes outside the expo on Thursday have been subdued. Picture: NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

As she attempts to move away from the crowd, more people follow her and producers end the live-cross.

Those tense scenes come after Channel 7 Sunrise reporter Teegan Dolling was swarmed by protesters on Wednesday.

One female protester put her hand over the camera lens, Ms Dolling pushed her arm away and what appeared to be private security guarding the reporter stepped in, but the protester managed to put hands on the camera at least one more time.

“That’s not on if people are actually mishandling our reporter,” host Natalia Barr said from the studio.

The expo will continue on Friday. Picture: NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

In the hours after the protest, Ms Dolling penned a piece for 7news.com.au where she described the protest as “vile and violent”.

“First there was the stench of OC spray in the air, then came the overwhelming smell of vomit, as protesters threw water balloons filled with sick at police, delegates and media,” she said.

“Ducking for cover as padlocks, apples, chairs and horse manure were hurled towards anyone the activists assume held different views.”

Melbourne was once the most liveable country in the world, she said, and had seen many protests, but “none this vile and violent”.

“The aggression came in waves, as police surged towards the 2000-strong group to remove them from the road, escort members of the public to safety, or to extinguish flames,” she wrote.

Ms Dolling said protesters didn’t listen to directions to move and reacted with attacks on police and cruelty towards horses.

It was the city’s largest protest in 24 years and resulted in 42 people being arrested.

Disrupt Land Forces say they will continue to protest during the remainder of the conference this week.