Vic’s top cop denies anti-lockdown ‘cover up’

Victoria’s top cop has defended police moves to restrict media from broadcasting live helicopter footage of Melbourne protests.

Victoria’s top cop has denied that police were involved in a “cover up” and stifled the media’s coverage of Melbourne’s protests by banning the live broadcast of helicopter footage.

The Civil Aviations Safety Authority on Wednesday granted a Victoria Police application to restrict the airspace around the CBD.

Victorian Police backed down slightly just hours later in response to immediate and widespread backlash.

However, while the force granted media permission to film from choppers, it demanded any footage be shown on a 60-minute delay.

“As part of the conditions, pilots will need to obtain approval from Victoria Police airwing before taking off to ensure there are no safety risks,” Victoria Police said in a statement.

“Media outlets will also be required to delay publishing any livestream footage from the air by 60 minutes or at the conclusion of the operation.”

Anti-lockdown protesters take over the Shrine of Remembrance on Wednesday. Picture: Jason Edwards.

A protester flees after police fire rubber bullets. Picture : NCA NewsWire/Ian Currie.

The restrictions are set to be in place until Sunday, with police arguing that protesters were using live footage to avoid police and direct their movements.

The move to limit the broadcast of live footage drew condemnation from the networks, who on Thursday morning went to the Federal Court in a bid to fight the orders.

The Alliance for Journalists’ Freedoms slammed the move as having “unacceptable implications for press freedom in a liberal democracy”.

“Protesters don’t need to watch the live aerial footage to find out what’s going on,” spokesman Peter Greste said.

“They can get all the information they need on social media. But the wider public deserves to know what is taking place in real time, and they have every right to get it from trusted news sources.”

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton has defended the decision to ban the broadcast of live helicopter footage of the Melbourne protests. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Andrew Henshaw.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said in hindsight, he should have better consulted with media outlets.

“It‘s allowing them to direct protesters to particular areas, it’s allowing them to see in real time our tactics, and it allows them in real time, potentially, to direct the protesters where there are small groups of police,” Mr Patton told 3AW on Thursday.

But he denied they were stifling the media, pointing out that live coverage was allowed on the ground.

“This is when you get a bigger view, looking down from a helicopter, and it’s allowing a tactical advantage and a public safety risk to be gained by the protesters. So there’s no denial of live feed. We’re not covering anything up,” he said.

“All we‘re simply saying is from the helicopter above, looking down in a tactical view, we can’t allow that live feed.

“I didn’t realise this was going to be such a big deal, honestly.”