This was published 7 months ago
Pro-Palestine protesters splash red paint on deputy premier’s office
By Tom Cowie
The ABC’s Southbank offices have been targeted by protesters who sprayed the building with fake blood and accused the media outlet of enabling genocide.
Police arrested two people on Wednesday morning over the graffiti attack after two other buildings were vandalised, including Seven’s offices in Docklands.
The electoral office of Deputy Premier Ben Carroll on Keilor Road in Niddrie was also targeted, which police said was linked to the other incidents.
Vandals covered the front window and steps of the ABC’s offices in red paint. They also put up a poster that said: “The ABC enables genocide.”
Carroll said that people deserved to feel safe at work.
“I urge everyone to please be civil, and to remember what makes Victoria such a strong state is our diversity, our harmony,” he said on social media website X. “Hate has no place in Victoria.”
Premier Jacinta Allan said that the protests were unacceptable.
“There is so much loss of life, there is so much grief, as a result of the conflict in the Middle East,” Allan said.
“Let’s not bring that grief to the streets of Melbourne. Let’s not add to the grief of so many in our community here.”
Protesters also halted motorists on the city’s roads as peak-hour traffic was building on Wednesday morning. All city-bound lanes were blocked on Kings Way near the intersection with Flinders Street, VicRoads said.
“There is heavy congestion pushing back through South Melbourne,” said VicRoads.
Drivers were advised to use St Kilda Road, Queensbridge Street or Clarendon Street onto Spencer Street instead.
The closure was cleared soon after the protest, but delays were expected to continue.
The protests come the day after Deakin University ordered pro-Palestine protesters off its Burwood campus, citing the “safety, security and amenity of all campus users”.
Over the past fortnight, students protesting over Israel’s war in Gaza have been camping at Australian universities, including Monash University and University of Melbourne.
In October 2023, Hamas attacked southern Israel, killed 1200 Israelis and took hostages. Since then, Israel has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to Gazan officials.
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