Premier Jacinta Allan rules out protest permits to protect police after weekend violence

Anti-racist rally organizers refused to condemn the violence while accusing police of injuring demonstrators and facilitating “racist” anti-immigration protests.

The police union is calling on the Victorian government to introduce a NSW-like permit system to regulate protests and protect police after officers were hospitalized in clashes with protesters in Melbourne’s CBD on Sunday.

A sergeant was taken to hospital with a suspected broken hand after being kicked by protesters, and a senior police officer also suffered a leg injury. The other 3 people were hit by rocks.

Wayne Gatt, chief executive of the Victoria Police Association, said officers would continue to suffer as long as the state had a “totally unregulated protest environment” and a permit system was needed.

“HE [a permit system] It has always been our recommendation. This is something that has been denied by the government,” Gatt told 3AW.

“We are locked in this debate about human rights and everyone has rights in the face of protests and we agree. [But] The only people who had no rights over the weekend were the people wearing blue uniforms. That’s what I see.”

Chief Commissioner Mike Bush has previously said he does not support the push for a permit system in Victoria.

On Monday, Allan said police had the tools and resources they needed to deal with protesters and that the government would submit further legislation to parliament to ban face coverings in the coming weeks. These reforms were first promised by the government late last year.

Allan dismissed the effectiveness of the permit system and cited ongoing protests in Sydney as evidence that it was not deterring demonstrators.

“I will repeat yes, Melbourne’s CBD is safe. And it would be inaccurate and misleading to conflate the behavior of a very small number of people who came into the city to bring violence and were quickly dealt with by Victoria police,” he said.

In NSW, protest organizers must notify the police commissioner in writing of their intention to hold a rally; this could provide them with protection from certain crimes if approved.

Gatt said he was shocked by his NSW counterpart’s opposition to the Victorian government’s permit system.

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Opposition police spokesman David Southwick said on Sunday night that if elected the Coalition would introduce a protest registration system to ensure they do not get out of control.

“This was a disgraceful attack on our police officers. Being pelted with rocks and bottles is not free speech, it is criminal violence,” Southwick said.

“The Prime Minister promised tougher protest laws but [Premier] Jacinta Allan’s failure to act fuels division and hatred. “Now is the time to defend law and order and support the police who keep us safe.”

Allan said people have the right to protest, but also the obligation to do so peacefully.

Victoria Police Commander Wayne Cheesman was furious as he described protesters’ attacks on officers. “Melbourne is sick to its stomach,” he said.

Holding a large rock that he said was thrown at police, Cheesman said: “This really horrifies me. This could kill someone, that’s the outcome.”

“I’m showing you the rocks because I think the public needs to see what the police are being targeted with,” he said.

But rally organizers disputed Cheesman’s statement and claimed protesters were hospitalized due to “violent actions by Victoria Police”.

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“Police used violence that injured activists and nearly five people were hospitalized. Police denied thousands the right to protest while facilitating racist, hate-filled demonstrations for Australia, using white supremacy to defend the ideology of a white Australia,” social media said.

Counter-rally organizer Anneke Demanuele refused to condemn stone-throwing demonstrators, accusing police of using the press conference to attack activists on the left.

“I’m not condemning anything. The best question to ask is why a police commander would go out of his way to praise fascists and racist protesters,” she told 3AW.

Some demonstrators at the March for Australia were heard chanting racist slogans, including “the white man fights back”, and were seen running to confront counter-protesters.

Age Among the anti-immigration crowd, he detected several members of the neo-Nazi group the National Socialist Network wearing civilian clothes.

On Monday morning, Police Minister Anthony Carbines said protesters intent on causing violence should be dealt with “as harshly as possible” by police and defended police actions, including the use of pepper spray and rubber bullets.

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