Victorian police chief savages Melbourne anti-war protesters, Greens fail to back response
Victoria’s chief commissioner has blasted anti-war protesters who rioted in Melbourne by hurling acid and horse manure at police for being hypocrites, as the Greens pointedly failed to back the emergency response.
Victoria’s chief commissioner, Shane Patton, has blasted the anti-war protesters who rioted in Melbourne by hurling acid and horse manure at police for being hypocrites as the Greens pointedly failed to back the emergency response.
Mr Patton threw his support behind the street-level police response, with officers there having to face acid, faeces and canned food and bottles being thrown at them, horses being punched and 2m high security fencing being torn down outside the Land Forces 24 defence expo.
Labor and the Liberals united in support of the police response, which included the use of stun grenades, rubber bullets, capsicum spray and batons against largely pro-Palestinian activists.
The Victorian Greens sought to appeal to the hard-left fringe by calling for an independent inquiry into the use of force at the protest, writing to the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission to complain of police tactics.
Mr Patton savaged the crowd of about 1500 activists, who left a trail of destruction. “I want to say how appalled I am at the conduct of a large amount of the protesters. They come here to protest against war, so presumably, anti-violence. The only way I can describe them is as a bunch of hypocrites,” he said.
While Victorian Greens’ leader Ellen Sandell rejected violence, she attacked police, accusing them of excessive force.
The federal Greens refused to condemn the protest or say whether MPs regretted encouraging people to attend. The Australian asked several whether they were critical of the behaviour of the protesters but none responded.
Mr Patton argued that the protesters, some from NSW and Queensland, had stepped over into criminality. “We have conducted ourselves properly (and) I couldn’t be prouder of the officers down there,” he said. “If you wish to come and protest, do so peacefully. We do not tolerate criminal behaviour, we take action.”
Anthony Albanese criticised activists throwing projectiles at police and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said the police deserved respect, not violence.
The Prime Minister said the hurling of objects at police was unacceptable. “People have a right to protest peacefully,” Mr Albanese told Channel Seven. “You don’t say you’re opposed to defence equipment by throwing things at police.”
Ms Allan said: “This conflict overseas should not be turned into an opportunity to drive conflict on the streets of Melbourne for your base political purposes. That’s what the Greens political party are doing here.’’
There were 42 arrests, 27 police were injured and dozens of protesters were affected by capsicum spray and rubber bullets during a day of rolling protests around Melbourne’s main exhibition centre.
Mr Patton said the irony of the protests was that they had been meant to be peaceful but instead morphed into one of the most volatile street clashes in years. “The only way I can describe them is as a bunch of hypocrites,’’ he said of the activists. “I couldn’t be prouder of my members.”
Mr Patton said a form of liquid acid had been used against police and the Victorian Greens’ demands for an independent inquiry were misguided. “All I can say is that is rubbish,’’ he said.
It was the first time since the pandemic that police had deployed such force in Victoria, with the rubber bullets and stun grenades used to intimidate protesters and force them away from the convention centre.
Greens foreign affairs spokesman Jordon Steele-John used social media last week to call on followers to protest against the expo, describing weapons manufacturers as “merchants of death”.
Ms Sandell said police went too far. “Violence in any form is not acceptable. The overwhelming majority of protesters were there peacefully to protest against the Labor government sponsoring a weapons expo in our city,’’ she said. “Peaceful protesters were met with excessive force from police, police on horseback, police firing rubber bullets and throwing stun grenades into the crowd. This is completely unacceptable behaviour from Victoria Police.”
Victorian Greens MP Gabrielle de Vietri, who attended the rioting, blasted what she said was police violence towards pro-Palestine protesters. “Today we’ve seen an excessive and unjustified level of police violence,’’ she told The Australian.
Ms Allan, however, said of police: “They’re doing their job supporting community safety. They deserve to be treated absolutely with respect by people who are attending this protest.”
Mr Patton said the acid was in a low-level form but had caused skin irritation. Police said horse manure also had been thrown.
Attendees at the Land Forces defence expo experienced few difficulties getting inside the Melbourne Convention Centre, with strategic barriers placed to enable police to keep protesters at bay.
Some attendees were sprayed by protesters with an unknown liquid and many had to endure taunts of “baby killer”.
Chief of Army Simon Stuart said it was ironic that “for 123 years, the … ADF, has been protecting the right to protest, I would add peacefully”.
Once inside the expo, attendees were largely oblivious to the protesters outside, as army commanders and counterparts from more than 20 partner nations met with arms and technology manufacturers from more than 900 companies.
Peter Dutton said protesters had disregarded the sacrifice of Anzacs. “The Australian Defence Force keeps us safe, and we celebrate every Anzac Day the sacrifice that Australians have made to keep us safe in democracy we have,” the Opposition Leader said.
“I think many of the protesters would do well to remind themselves of how our country has survived and thrived as a result of the sacrifice that those men and women of the ADF have made.”
The protest was dominated by university students and the anti-Israel protest movement, with several groups combining.
Ms Sandell backed her MP and sought to shift attention to the police response, arguing that officers should “de-escalate” any clashes. “We have a duty as members of parliament to represent our constituents and that is exactly what Gabrielle is doing,” she said.
“(Protesters) have been met with an incredible barrage of increased police presence.”
Ms Allan condemned the protesters behaving in a “disgraceful” way and lashed out at Ms de Vietri for choosing to “turn her back” on her role as an MP.
“Quite frankly, if the member for Richmond can’t turn up and do her job as an elected MP, she should hand back the keys to her office,” she said. “It is unbelievable that anyone who has the right and the privilege to be a MP would behave in such a divisive and potentially dangerous way.”
Victorian Police Minister Anthony Carbines said the Greens were more concerned about “pulling stunts” than representing their communities. He said he was aware activists from interstate had made their way to participate in the destructive rally.
“There are some (protesters) from Queensland, from NSW, who made their way to cause trouble and disrupt matters here in Victoria,” he said on Wednesday morning.
“There are some who are absolutely professional protesters who seek to disrupt and cause havoc here in Melbourne. Police are well aware of who they are.”
Victoria’s Opposition Leader John Pesutto said the labels “thugs” and “idiots” for the protesters hurling projectiles at police and causing disruption to the city were “too charitable”.
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