Coronavirus: Victoria Police could not stop the rally, says Daniel Andrews

Victorian Premier Daniel ­Andrews has argued police could not have arrested the thousands of people who rallied in Melbourne on the weekend.

The Black Lives Matter protest in Melbourne last weekend. Picture: Jason Edwards

Victorian Premier Daniel ­Andrews has rejected claims that he sent “mixed messages” ahead of Saturday’s Black Lives Matter protest, arguing police could not have arrested or fined the thousands of people who congregated in Melbourne’s CBD in contravention of social-distancing laws.

Ahead of the protest Mr Andrews urged Victorians to support the cause in ways that did not involve attending, but backed Victoria Police’s decision to issue fines to organisers but not attendees.

On Tuesday, speaking publicly for the first time since Saturday’s rally, Mr Andrews said his message that people should not go to the protest “couldn’t have been clearer”.

“Victoria Police’s response couldn't have been clearer: don’t go to the protest,” he said. “But it’s simply not practical to be issuing thousands of fines or potentially locking up thousands and thousands of people … as Victoria Police made very clear, we weren’t able to stop people. Victoria Police made the right judgment.”