TRANSCRIPT
Police and protesters came head-to-head in Melbourne as demonstrations opposing the Land Forces Weapons Expo saw scores of anti-war activists gather outside the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Loud bangs were heard ringing through the C-B-D as police deployed flash distraction devices.
They also used capsicum spray, tear gas and rubber bullets.
Chief Commissioner Shane Patton says 24 police officers have been injured and he's labelled the protesters hypocrites for resorting to violence when they say they oppose war.
"I hope that some of these groups will go away from today and reflect on their conduct and think, if they're really trying to further their cause, if they're really anti-war, then they are anti-violence and that this isn't the way that they are going to garner support. We will be prepared for any event for the duration of this conference, this expo."
Secretary of the Victorian Police Association, Wayne Gatt says the anti-war protesters went with the intention to incite violence, and claims he does not understand their motives.
"I don't know what or for what cause, to be quite frank, but one thing's for certain, they came there with the intent to be violent from the go get from the very moment, our members stood out on that line. They've been subjected to horrific behaviour. They've been subjected to, filthy, filthy behaviour by those animals."
But the demonstrators say they were brutalised by police.
This protester, who spoke to reporters with a bloodied face, says the police used disproportionate force.
"I mean I think it was pretty obviously an exaggerated response. I think it was like very disproportionate. I mean, I won't actually mince my words at all. The protesters were like largely peaceful. Obviously, there was like symbolic demonstrations. There were shouting, there were signs, but the police had weaponry. They have rubber bullets. I saw police throw tear gas canisters directly into the crowd. I saw the, I was on the front line when the horses marched into the crowd. There were fires that had been lit, and the horses were actively pushing people back into fires. I saw peaceful protesters get tackled and grabbed and dragged into the lines like doing nothing."
The Land Forces Expo is a major weapons exhibition that hosts senior international military, defence, government, scientific and industry delegations from around the world.
One protester, Miriam, says she flew down from Sydney with some friends to attend.
"People from all over Australia have come to kind of show off the weapons that they have, that are, we know are used to kill the people in Palestine and as we can witness the genocide and the massacres that are happening around the clock in Palestine, we've gathered here from all over Australia. I'm from Sydney and I flew here with a few friends to say that this is wrong and we do not accept it and we're going to push back until this stops, we have been on the streets for 11 months and we have not been heard."
Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan says anyone using violence will be apprehended.
"And I say to anyone, anyone going down to threaten police to threaten community safety will absolutely be dealt with by Victoria Police. There is the right to protest peacefully, of course. But to behave in such a disgraceful way towards members of Victoria Police, who are there doing their job, who are there doing their job to protect community safety."
Also in attendance at the protests was Greens member for Richmond Gabrielle de Vietri, drawing criticism from the premier and the leader of the opposition.
The Victorian Greens are now calling for an independent inquiry to what they say was "excessive force" from the police.
The police presence at the protest was the largest at a protest in Melbourne in two decades.
Jacinta Allan says the Greens M-P was not doing the job she was elected to do.
"So, members of parliament are elected to sit in the parliament. When parliaments sit, it's quite rightfully their responsibility and duty to turn up for parliament. And being a member of parliament, it is an absolute privilege to represent your community, and the way you represent your community, the way you be your community's voice is by turning up when Parliament's sitting. That's what you're elected to do. You're not elected to run off and join political stunts for your own divisive political purposes."
But Gabrielle de Vietri says being at the protest in support of her community is part of her job.
"This is my job. My job is to listen to my community and to do the right thing, and I've been elected to stand up for what's right, and that's exactly what I'm doing here today. I'm representing the voice of the hundreds of thousands of people in my electorate and elsewhere who want to see an end to Victoria's complicity in war crimes, who want to see an end to violence and war, and that's exactly what I'm doing here today. And MPs, attend events, and they go to meetings outside of Parliament during sitting weeks all the time this is no different."
