Anti-war demonstrators have vowed to continue to protest at a Melbourne military expo after a day of violent clashes in which members of the group pelted police with horse poo, rocks, eggs, beer bottles, tomatoes, canned food and a mild acid.
Police, who used foam bullets, stun grenades, tear gas and pepper spray to quell the at-times chaotic crowd outside the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Wednesday, defended their use of force.
About 1500 protesters attended the demonstration, according to police estimates, well short of the 20,000 authorities said organisers were expecting. Many wore masks or other face coverings. Others wore keffiyehs and carried Palestinian flags. A few were dressed in elaborate costumes.
Rally-goers shouted “shame” and obstructed those attempting to enter the three-day Land Forces conference, which bills itself as Australia’s largest defence industry exhibition.
Protesters set fire to bins and set up barricades during the unrest, which was mainly concentrated on the Spencer Street Bridge in the CBD, as mounted police and armed officers dressed in riot gear stood opposite to prevent access to the convention centre.
Victoria Police said protesters also sprayed liquid, later detected to be a low-level acid, on officers.
Forty-two people were arrested over various offences, including assaulting police, obstructing police, hindering police, arson, assault and blocking roadways.
Police said 22 people were charged and bailed, including a Queensland man, 23, charged with obstructing and assaulting police, a Geelong West man, 33, charged with arson and a Brunswick woman, 28, charged with assaulting police. The latter three were bailed to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on November 21. Ten other people were expected to be charged on summons and another 10 were issued with infringement notices.
Police said 27 officers required medical attention, although none were seriously injured. There were also clashes with police horses, but none of the animals were hurt.
Chief Commissioner Shane Patton lashed the behaviour of some of the protesters, calling them hypocrites for attending the rally with an intention to cause violence.
“They come here to protest against war, so presumably anti-violence, and the only way I can describe them is a bunch of hypocrites. Their conduct today was absolutely appalling.”
Patton said the police supported peaceful protests, but officers were subjected to vitriol, abuse, assaulted and abused, and horses were targeted.
“They were standing there in full-face balaclavas with ski masks on. There was no snow there,” he said.
“They only wore those for one reason, to avoid being subject to a [capsicum] spray when they came with intent to provoke, to attack.”
Victorian Greens leader Ellen Sandell called for an independent inquiry into police behaviour at the rally, particularly over the use of pepper spray. Patton rejected the idea, calling it rubbish.
“We have conducted ourselves properly. I couldn’t be prouder of the officers down there and to see the way they used restraint when confronted by people intent on using violence,” he said.
Protesters berated men in suits as they walked past, with one demonstrator yelling: “You think you’re f---ing tough?” Rally-goers waved Palestinian flags and called for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Disrupt Land Forces – a conglomerate protest group leading the action – is calling for an end to weapons sales to Israel and an arms embargo. Another rally is set to take place on Thursday.
“The anti-militarist movement on this continent has grown and matured very rapidly since Israel’s attacks on Gaza began,” spokesperson Caroline Da Silva said. “We are deeply committed, and we are growing stronger. Change will come.”
As well as tear gas, pepper spray and foam – largely thought to be rubber – bullets, protesters said police had targeted them with blows, kicks and “boots on our throats”.
Demonstrators began gathering outside the convention centre about 6am on Wednesday while others met in small groups around the CBD and marched towards the site from all sides.
Hundreds later surrounded the entry to the centre, chanting “show me what democracy looks like, this is what democracy looks like” and “Land Forces, you can’t hide, you’re supporting genocide.”
The rally later shifted to the western side of the convention centre, near the entrance to DFO South Wharf, where an intersection was blocked and protesters jumped on the back of a truck.
At one point during the clashes, a man was seen bleeding on the ground after something hit him in the head. Tear gas was regularly deployed on protesters throughout the day as police moved them away from the conference centre.
Among the protesters was retired Catholic priest Peter Murnane, who said he had decided to attend because he was “totally anti-war”.
“We shouldn’t be dealing with arms or manufacturing weapons. The government is totally complicit,” he said.
Catholic priest Peter Murnane attend the protest with a sign on his mobility scooter. Credit: Justin McManus
“Look what they’re doing in Gaza, look what they’ve done to Iraq, look what they’ve done to Vietnam. Why not focus on negotiating anti-arms treaties?”
One protest organiser, Omar Hassan, said demonstrators came out to the military expo because: “We’re disgusted at the fact that the Victorian Labor government is hosting a convention of death and genocide amidst one of the worst wars we’ve seen in the 21st century.”
Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the actions of violent protesters.
“I say to anyone going down to threaten police, to threaten community safety, [they] will absolutely be dealt with by Victoria Police,” Allan said.
While the premier was addressing the media on Wednesday morning, Greens MP Gabrielle de Vietri left parliament to attend the protest, which Allan described as a political move to create division.
“She has turned her back on her role as representing the community of Richmond. They deserve better than that … if [she] can’t turn up and do her job as an elected member of parliament, she should hand back the keys to her office,” said Allan.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also reprimanded the anti-war protesters.
“People have a right to protest peacefully,” Albanese said on Seven on morning.
“But you don’t say you’re opposed to defence equipment by throwing things at police. They’ve got a job to do, and our police officers should be respected at all times.”
Some protesters also targeted trucks on Melbourne’s roads by cutting air lines that disabled their brakes, according to the container freight industry.
Credit: Matt Golding
The Container Transport Alliance Australia said that at least five heavy vehicles were targeted while stopped at major intersections around Melbourne.
It said the protesters used knives or other sharp implements to sever the air lines that control the breaking system between a prime mover and trailer.
“Container freight movements were severely impacted today,” the alliance said.
Melbourne commuters were also hit, with transport delays throughout the city affecting roads and tram routes.
Spencer and Clarendon streets were closed in both directions between Flinders Street and City Road through the day.
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