Criminal acts mar pro-Palestine protests across Melbourne

A rising tide of anti-weapons and pro-Palestinian sentiment has broken out across Melbourne, with peaceful protests marred by criminal acts.

A wide net of protesters have swept across Melbourne in the days after lower house MPs in Canberra overwhelmingly rejected a motion to recognise Palestinian statehood.

A state government-backed defence forum in Melbourne’s CBD was the target of protesters who laid on the building concourse Friday morning. Police say no arrests or move on directions were given.

Victoria’s Jobs Minister Natalie Hutchins spoke at the event, which was sponsored by weapons and defence behemoth BAE Systems. The line up featured speakers from weapons manufacturers DMTC, QinetiQ, and SYPAQ, armourer The Smart Think, plus Melbourne-based manufacturers and a retraining provider.

Protesters attempting to block the entryway to the conference in Melbourne on Friday. Picture: David Crosling / NewsWire

“Natalie Hutchins will be speaking at this event today because she is the Minister for Jobs and Industry. So she’s played a big role in facilitating the supply chain space needed for weapons to be manufactured in our backyards,” a protester bellowed with a megaphone outside.

Protesters laid down on the concourse, trying to represent the dead bodies of those killed in Gaza.

In response to questions about Ms Hutchins’ appearance at the conference, a Victorian government spokesperson said “foreign policy is for the Federal Government, not the states”.

“Our job is making sure all communities in Victoria feel safe and supported,” the spokesperson said.

Elsewhere in the city, a group of pro-Palestine protesters marched to the state parliament, carrying baby dolls smeared in ‘blood’.

As of March 19, the United Nations estimated 13,000 had died in Gaza since October 7. Picture: NewsWire / Diego Fedele

“Stop arming Israel,” their banners read.

Under the Albanese government, Australia has exported $3.25m of arms and ammunition to Israel, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade figures show.

A Melbourne factory is the world’s only manufacturer of a crucial bomb bay door component of the F-35 stealth jet, a machine central to Israel’s defence forces.

A police spokeswoman said no move on notices were issued outside the conference on Friday. Picture: NewsWire / David Crosling

Pro-Palestine sentiment was inflamed this week when federal MPs voted down a motion to formally recognise a Palestinian state. The Greens’ motion failed 80 votes to five in the lower house.

A tide of anti-weapons sentiment within the pro-Palestine movement extended to a series of vandalisms targeting Labor government MPs across Melbourne early Friday.

Bill Shorten’s electorate office was targeted by vandals early Friday morning. Picture: NewsWire / Diego Fedele

As was the office of federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus. Picture: NewsWire / David Crosling

NewsWire is not suggesting the peaceful protesters and vandals are directly associated.

Offices were covered in red paint, with three of the offices hit belonging to federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, NDIS Minister Bill Shorten and the American Consulate on St Kilda Road.

The attacks happened in the early hours and police are investigating.

On Mr Shorten’s office, the words “Bill blood on your hands. 40,000 dead” were, a purported reference to the difficult-to-verify death toll in Gaza during the past seven months.

The Attorney-General’s office declined to comment. Mr Shorten’s office was approached for comment.

A U.S. Consulate General Melbourne spokesperson said services at the building were not impeded by the damage.

Premier Jacinta Allan said conflict on Australian streets achieved nothing.

“By all means, protest and protest peacefully but do not see the conflict in the Middle East bring conflict to our streets and certainly never making workplaces unsafe for the staff who work for members of parliament,” the Premier said.

Damage like that inflicted to MPs’ offices “will not change the course of the conflict in the Middle East”.

Staff at electorate offices deserved to feel safe, Ms Allan said.

“They go to work every single day, and they deserve the right to a safe and respectful workplace. And that is what should be absolutely maintained at all times.

“And they’re the ones I’m concerned about for today,” the Premier said.