September 12, 2024
Shadow home affairs minister James Paterson has called out the Greens for backing the "violent intent" of protesters in Melbourne after poo, bottles and other projectiles were hurled at police on Wednesday.
A massive demonstration in the Victorian capital saw more than 1,000 protesters clash with authorities outside the Land Forces 2024 Expo at Melbourne Exhibition Centre.
The protest rapidly turned violent on Wednesday morning, with loud bangs heard as police employed flash grenades and tear gas to dispel the crowd.
Traffic on Melbourne's West Gate Freeway was brought to a standstill as some protesters climbed on top of trucks and threw objects on the roadway.
Both major parties condemned the violence, but the Victorian Greens instead hit out at police tactics, writing to the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission and calling for an independent inquiry into tactics used to confront the crowd.
Federal members of the minor party also refused to condemn the actions of protesters, or comment on MPs calls for people to attend the violent demonstration.
That sparked an incredulous response from Senator Paterson on Thursday, who hit out at the "extraordinary" decision to support demonstrators' violent conduct.
"The scenes that we saw in Melbourne yesterday were totally and utterly unacceptable," he said.
"Of course, people have a right to protest for any cause that they like, but that right to protest does not transform into a right to assault police officers, including, apparently, with acid, horse manure, with rocks, nor does it include the right to intimidate and harass people who are trying to peacefully assemble for a conference.
"The most extraordinary thing coming out of this is we've got Greens MPs defending the protesters and blaming the police.
"I think it's very clear the protesters came with violent intent, they carried out that intent and police did the best they could."
Victorian Greens' leader Ellen Sandell had earlier claimed the protests were "peaceful" and laid the blame for violence solely on authorities, accusing police of "excessive force" and firing rubber bullets into the crowd.
However, the state's Chief Commissioner, Shane Patton, rubbished those claims in a blistering press conference on Wednesday, saying he was "appalled" at the conduct of many protesters and labelling them "hypocrites" for using violent tactics to protest against war and violence.
Asked to comment on the Greens calls for an independent enquiry, he replied: "All I can say is that is rubbish."
The Land Forces 2024 Expo is set to continue on Thursday, despite the presence of protesters, with a heavy police presence again in place outside the venue to prevent a repeat of Wednesday's scenes.
A smaller crowd of demonstrators had already gathered nearby at about 9am.
