Melbourne Hosts International Defence Expo as Protests Erupt

Thousands of protesters gathered early in Melbourne's Central Business District to demonstrate outside the Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition, held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). The event, which draws defence and weapons companies from around the world, is expected to see tens of thousands of attendees, though it is not open to the public.

Protesters, including groups like Students for Palestine, assembled before dawn on Wednesday, chanting pro-Palestine slogans and marching through the city streets. The protestors, some carrying signs and wearing Palestinian scarves, voiced opposition to the expo. While the Students for Palestine group stated their intention to protest peacefully, other groups called for "citizens arrests" of delegates entering the event.

The number of protesters grew throughout the morning, returning to the convention centre, where they were met by a significant police presence, including mounted officers and riot squads. Victoria Police has mobilized hundreds of officers for the event, marking one of the largest operations in over 20 years. A barricade was established outside the venue, and police set up a checkpoint to verify the credentials of those entering the conference. Some protesters shouted at delegates as they passed through these checks.

Treasurer Tim Pallas revealed that the additional police deployment is expected to cost the state over $10 million. One protest organizer, Anneke Demanuele from Students for Palestine, criticized the expense and the involvement of riot police from other states. She reiterated that while the protesters aimed to be peaceful, they intended to disrupt the event by blocking entry to delegates.

The protests have also caused disruptions to traffic and public transport in the city. Trams have been rerouted, and drivers are being advised to avoid the area. At one intersection near the West Gate Freeway, police halted the protest from spreading further.

In addition to protest organizers, Greens MP Gabrielle de Vietri expressed her support for the demonstration, stating that she would skip Wednesday’s parliamentary session to attend, citing concerns over the government's handling of current crises.

Source: ABC News/ The Guardian

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