Melbourne anti-lockdown protests: Luke Cornelius stands by ‘batsh*t crazy’ take-down

A top Victorian cop, whose stunning take-down of the “tin foil hat brigade” went viral last week, has revealed why he did it and why he’s not backing down.

A high-ranking Victoria Police officer, whose stunning take-down of the “tin foil hat brigade” conspiracists went viral last week, has revealed why he went to town on anti-lockdown protesters.

Straight-talking Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius won plenty of fans a week ago with a pointed description of conspiracy theorists organising an illegal protest against Victoria’s tough lockdown measures.

“They’re taking every opportunity to leverage the current situation to serve their ridiculous notions about so-called sovereign citizens, about constitutional issues and about how 5G is going to kill your grandkids,” he said of the protesters last Friday.

“I mean it’s just crazy, it’s batsh*t crazy nonsense.”

Asked on Thursday if he believed his take-down had achieved its aims, Mr Cornelius said he had one goal with the now famous media conference.

“I wanted to achieve one thing last week and that was cut through,” he said.

“To leave people in no doubt where the police stood because I have listened over the last couple of months with growing concern as the commentariat and the dilettante hobbyists have carried on about what the police should and shouldn’t have done.

“The key piece here is absolute clarity in my message. Don’t leave home to protest, don’t be selfish and don’t allow people to exploit people’s fears and concerns.”

Mr Cornelius was again on song on Thursday when he issued a second plea for Victorians planning to protest on Saturday to back down.

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius wanted his message to ‘cut through’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Unfortunately, he said, police believed the protest was still scheduled to proceed on Saturday at various locations in the CBD.

He said police were “outraged” that people still thought it was a good idea to leave home and protest during a deadly global pandemic.

“What we’re dealing with here is a hardcore group of people who blatantly are refusing to follow the directions and are blatantly encouraging others not to do so,” Mr Cornelius said.

“I said a few other things last week, and you know, that’s gone viral I understand, but the key thing here is it’s about selfishness.

“I would, as I did last week, urge people for just once to think about other people.

“Think about your grandparents, think about the most vulnerable in our community, who have the highest risk factor in terms of exposure to this deadly virus, and consider your role in keeping those people safe.

“By all means, be the keyboard warrior, fat shame me as much as you want, but the key thing here is stay at home, don’t leave home to protest.”

He said he didn’t have an issue with what people believed, that was their right, but urged everyone to stay at home and protest online as protest gatherings outdoors were illegal during stage 3 and 4 lockdowns.

Police have so far charged four people with incitement over Saturday’s planned protest, including reality TV contestant turned conspiracist Fanos Panayides and 76-year-old Windsor man Solihin Millin twice.

Mr Cornelius said anyone who left home to protest would be fined and arrested if they failed to comply with police directions.

Those charged with incitement face court-imposed fines of up to $20,000.

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