Radical protesters unite under the anti-Israel banner to oppose major military conference

Victoria Police face possible violence on Wednesday as anti-war protesters gather in Melbourne to oppose a defence conference.

Police in front of the Melbourne Convention Centre keep an eye on protesters ahead of a mass protest on Wednesday. Picture: NewsWire/ David Crosling

Hard-left radical groups opposed to Israel and wars generally are planning a mass protest in Melbourne on Wednesday but face a so-called “ring of steel’’ formed by 1200 Victoria Police.

The most extreme anti-Israel groups are planning to join the protest, creating another layer of uncertainty for police, which fear thousands will gather in central Melbourne for the Land Forces 2024 conference.

Victoria Police has been gathering intelligence on the planned protests, with radical groups war-gaming how to respond to a large presence of police brought in from across the state.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said there would be low tolerance for any protests that affected people going about their daily lives. “Victorians coming into the city to go to work, to go to those important medical appointments, for other activities that they have planned to do so over the rest of this week in the CBD, they should do that, and they should be allowed to continue to undertake those activities unimpeded,’’ she said.

“My message is more to anyone … thinking of coming into the city, causing disruption, potentially threatening community safety – there is absolutely no place for that sort of behaviour.”

Liberal frontbencher Brad Rowswell said there should be zero tolerance for the protests. “We’ve got, quite frankly, idiots, making life a whole lot difficult,’’ he said. “Land Force is an opportunity for Victoria, and Victoria’s defence industry, to put themselves on the world stage.

“They (the protesters) are a stain on our state, and our state’s reputation as well.’’

Police are expecting as many as 25,000 protesters to be in Melbourne for the defence conference. The large number of people, many radical members of protest groups, have sparked concerns about any ensuing riots.

In 2006, central Melbourne experienced rioting when 2000 people protested against a G20 summit.

In 2000, the World Economic Forum was severely disrupted by protests, with hundreds arrested and detained.

The Land Forces conference will be held at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, known informally as Jeff’s Shed after former Liberal premier Jeff Kennett whose government built the project. A series of wire barriers have been placed around the perimeter of the convention centre, which is near Crown casino.

The security operation will cost an estimated $15m.

One serious challenge facing police is if the protesters split into different groups, attacking different areas of the CBD.

During the pandemic, this was a tactic of some groups but their impact was limited because of very little traffic because of lockdowns.

The emergency government bailout will help cater for the huge police presence planned in Melbourne.

Police were criticised in Victoria during the pandemic for being too heavy-handed, including using rubber bullets and enforcing draconian lockdown measures.

Protesters have advertised on social media a mass picket from 6am on Wednesday and are likely to mass by the Yarra River, between Crown casino and the convention centre.

They have been warned not to carry anything that could be deemed to be a weapon – such as flag poles – and have prepared people for pepper spray to be used.