What is the Land Forces Expo?
The biennial Land Forces International Land Defence Expo, previously held in Brisbane, attracts hundreds of defence personnel from around the world to its showcase of weapons and technology.
Protesters outside the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.Credit: Justin McManus
More than 800 domestic and international companies and leading organisations will take part.
Guns, armour, drones, trucks, and even missiles have been displayed at the event.
On Wednesday, British defence company BAE unveiled a military tank to cheers and pounding music – one of many large armoured vehicles quietly brought into the centre under cover of darkness in the past few days.
Who is protesting against it?
Protesters from different activist groups, including Extinction Rebellion and Students for Palestine, have banded together to form a larger group, Disrupt Land Forces. Up to 25,000 activists are expected to disrupt the city centre.
The Age estimates about 1500 people congregated outside the Clarendon Street entrance of the convention centre on Wednesday morning.
Students for Palestine and Disrupt Wars are two of the groups protesting against the expo. Credit: Justin McManus
What do they want?
Disrupt Land Forces spokeswoman Jasmine Duff said the protest was triggered by the government’s stance on the conflict in the Middle East.
“We’re protesting to stand up for all those who have been killed by the type of weapons on display at the convention,” she said.
“Many of the weapons inside the convention centre are advertised as battle-tested. In the context of Israeli weapons firms, which are present, this means tested through killing civilians in Gaza.”
Blockade co-chair Bella Beiraghi said the group’s aims were also broader. “We stand against the death and destruction brought by weapons of war,” she said.
Can I get through Docklands?
There are a number of closed roads and intersections, and people have been urged to avoid the area if they can. Police have blocked ramps to the M1 freeway and West Gate Freeway, with significant traffic congestion banking up around the city. Wurundjeri Way remains blocked in both directions.
Yarra Trams has warned commuters of disruptions to several city-bound services, including routes 96 and 109.
What is the Victoria Police response?
Victoria Police expects it to be its biggest operation since chaos surrounded the World Economic Forum in 2000, with hundreds of regional officers travelling to Melbourne for the event, along with general duties officers and specialist police.
These include the public order response team, highway patrol and mounted branch.
A police spokesperson said major efforts were under way to ensure the “highest level of safety and security” at the event. By using anti-terror legislation, police have increased powers to search any person or vehicle within the area surrounding the event.
What is the state government response?
Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas said police had asked the state government for additional funds to cover the event, estimated at $10 million to $15 million.
Pallas urged anyone not protesting to stay away from the area around the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, and asked demonstrators to act “with a modicum of respect”, including towards police.
“It does require a measure of policing, both to assure the safety of the convention attenders, but also the community in and around those areas,” he said.
Pallas emphasised the economic importance of the defence industry. “From our perspective, the key is to recognise that this is an important industry that the state will continue to support, and this convention is really a showcase of the industry to the world,” he said.
Police Minister Anthony Carbines said police were well equipped to deal with any unruly protesters. He said some “professional protesters” from other states had travelled to join in.
“It’s typical that [there are] always a few people who want to show disrespect and break the law, and police will deal with it,” said Carbines. “Here in Victoria, there are some who are absolutely professional protesters who seek to disrupt and cause havoc here in Melbourne, but police are well aware of who they are.”
With Cassandra Morgan, AAP
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