Disruption on Melbourne’s streets continues into its third day as police try to contain demonstrators protesting against the Land Wars expo at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
After violent clashes on Sept. 11, police extended the blockade outside the expo, putting water-filled bollards on the northern section of the Spencer Street bridge.
This morning, however, a protester parked her car on King Street bridge before attaching herself to it. Her hands were encased in a bag of fast-setting concrete, forcing police to move the vehicle with the woman still affixed to allow rush hour traffic through. They then deployed an angle grinder to detach her.
Two activists also parked sideways on the Kings Way Bridge and locked themselves to their vehicle. It was towed away within 30 minutes.
Rally organisers say they are expecting “significant protest activity” on Sept. 13.
“There will be renewed vigour to protest because it’s the last day. It’s our last chance to show these weapons companies that they’re not welcome here,” spokesperson Caroline Da Silva said.
“A bit of police spray, some rubber bullets—those things are harmful—but they don’t do anything to alter our conscience.”
Various speeches are expected throughout the day before what organisers are calling a “zombie rave at Batman Park to hassle attendees as they’re leaving the weapons expo” takes place at 3 p.m.
Thursday Was ‘Peaceful’: Police
Unlike on Sept. 11, when police and protesters were injured and 42 people arrested, the demonstration on Sept. 12 was characterised by police as “generally peaceful,” though they had made five arrests, two of which were people carrying prohibited weapons.A group gathered on a busy Flinders Street intersection yesterday, blocking traffic, while one person reportedly began smashing vehicles in the central business district.
Protesters marched down the same street, chanting slogans and holding signs calling for an embargo on arms exports.
They also gathered in Bourke Street to shout pro-Palestine chants outside the headquarters of South Korean company Hanwha Defence Australia, which has subcontracted part of a $10 billion contract from the federal government to an Israeli firm.
Anthony Carbines, Victoria’s Police Minister, accused the Greens of inciting the violence that occurred on Sept. 11, in response to the party’s call for an inquiry into the tactics and “excessive force” used by Victoria Police.
“They played a role here in inciting violence and inciting bad behaviour, illegal behaviour, criminal behaviour by some of the protesters,” he said.
The Minister predicted more arrests as police tracked down violent protesters caught on body camera footage.
However, Senator Shoebridge said there was no question that police use of stun grenades, rubber bullets, force and “excessive violence against protesters went well beyond what anyone would expect.”
“The Greens will continue and always do state that protests should be peaceful and will oppose violence by the state or otherwise,” he said.
Shoebridge also criticised the Albanese Government for approving over 50 military export permits to Israel this year, launching a petition against it.
“We should not be fueling war crimes. We should not be fueling a global arms race,” the senator said.
Meanwhile, Australia’s new American-made tank has gone on display at the expo. The M1A2 battle tank, equipped with a 120-millimetre cannon, will eventually replace Australia’s older fleet of 59 M1A1 Abrams tanks that were purchased in 2007 but never deployed in combat.
It remains unclear whether the older Abrams fleet will be donated to Ukraine.
Defence Minister Richard Marles is expected to tour the exhibition, where several Israeli companies are bidding for more military deals with Australia.
