Victoria Police maintain presence at Land Forces expo as human rights groups condemn 'excessive' force

By Madi Chwasta, ABC News

Police are expected to maintain their presence outside the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre today after hundreds of officers clashed with anti-war protesters on Wednesday, resulting in dozens of injuries and arrests.

Protest groups, including organisers and anti-war group Disrupt Land Forces, were lined up at dawn outside the Land Forces expo on Wednesday, which has attracted hundreds of defence and weapons companies from around the world.

In response, Victoria Police said it assembled the largest contingent of officers to counter the demonstrators since Melbourne hosted the World Economic Forum in 2000.

Tensions outside the expo quickly escalated into violence, with 1500 demonstrators attending.

Horse manure and low-level acid were thrown, hard foam rounds and synthetic capsicum spray were discharged, and loud explosions, plumes of thick white smoke and mounted police sent parts of the crowd running.

The clashes resulted in dozens of arrests and police injuries.

Human rights activists and the Victorian Greens have since denounced the police's response, calling it excessive and dangerous.

But Victoria Police and Premier Jacinta Allan said the actions of protesters necessitated the use of crowd-control techniques including foam bullets and pepper spray.

What did police use against demonstrators?

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said officers used a range of non-lethal instruments against protesters on Wednesday.

They included hard foam baton rounds, often mistaken for rubber bullets, and a synthetic pepper spray called PAVA powder, which causes a temporary burning sensation to the eyes and inflammation of the skin.

To disperse the crowds, police on horseback rode close to demonstrators, while flash distraction devices were thrown to create smoke and a loud bang.

These are tactics and devices seen at previous protests in Victoria, including in 2019, when hundreds of climate activists confronted police at the Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC).

The Covid-19 protests in 2021, which saw 1000 people clash with police at the Shrine of Remembrance and on the West Gate Bridge, involved a similar police response, in addition to the implementation of a no-fly zone.

Treasurer Tim Pallas said police resourcing for this week's expo was estimated to cost Victoria more than AU$10 million, with more than 1000 police - including some from the regions and interstate - involved in the operation.

Calls for independent inquiry

Protest groups, human rights organisations and the Victorian Greens have labelled these tactics as a display of "excessive force" and have demanded an investigation into the decision-making of officers.

In a statement, Disrupt Land Forces organisers said they were "appalled" at the level of violence, which involved "blows, kicks, boots on our throats".

Protest organiser Bella Beiraghi told ABC Radio Melbourne the behaviour of police was "disproportionate".

"I've been protesting for years and years … and I have never been confronted with rubber bullets or tear gas before today," she said.

Seven human rights and legal groups, which included the Federation of Community Legal Centres, Human Rights Law Centre and Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, called for the prohibition of explosive devices, pepper spray and police horses at protests.

The groups wrote to Premier Jacinta Allan and Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes demanding the creation of a new independent body to investigate police.

Victorian Greens leader Ellen Sandell said an independent inquiry into police tactics at the protest needed to be established.

"Police are using excessive force and violence, which escalates the situation and puts people at risk," she said.

She referred to a recent IBAC finding, which reviewed 15 Victoria Police internal investigations into pepper spray use, and found in many cases "the decisions and actions of police escalated incidents or increased the risk of safety of those involved".

Police defend action after being 'attacked'

Patton has dismissed suggestions that officers used excessive force, calling the Greens requests for an independent inquiry "rubbish".

He said the police response was "appropriate" and the actions of protesters had caused injury to 27 officers, which included ligament sprains and strains, and irritation from substances.

"Their conduct today was absolutely appalling … what we saw today was not peaceful protest. A number of my officers were attacked," he said.

Patton said police had bottles, rocks and horse manure thrown at them, and were sprayed with liquid irritants, some of which was identified as containing a low-level acid.

On Wednesday, 42 people were arrested for various offences, including for assaulting police, obstructing police, hindering police, assault, arson and blocking roadways.

Twenty-two people were charged and bailed, while 10 would be expected to be charged on summons at a later date and another 10 were issued with infringement notices.

Patton said a "fairly large cohort" of protesters were involved in violent conduct and intelligence showed they were intending to "confront" officers before attending.

Allan also defended the work of police, criticising any protesters who made threats and initiated violence against officers.

"They're doing their job supporting community safety," Allan said.

"They deserve to be treated absolutely with respect by people who are attending this protest."

Patton said police would maintain its presence at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre today and on Friday.

- ABC