2025-01-29
A new report by Melbourne Activist Legal Support (MALS) highlights the concerning police tactics and excessive use of force used against protesters at the Land Forces Exposition that took place in September last year.
In the report, MALS highlights police use of “potentially lethal weapons” against protesters, police deploying OC foam against people on the ground or passively standing posing no physical threat to officers, and using dangerous and intimidating crowd control tactics.
The report suggests that much of the conflict and arrests wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for the unsafe environment created by police crowd control tactics and use of explosive and chemical weapons.
The Victorian Greens say that the report paints a chilling picture of democracy when peaceful protesters are met with excessive force and dangerous police tactics, and have called on Labor to reflect on the report’s findings and reconsider their sponsorship of Land Forces 2026.
Quotes attributable to the Victorian Greens spokesperson for Peace and Disarmament, Gabrielle de Vietri:
“Weapons and war-profiting should never have been in Melbourne to begin with but instead of cancelling Land Forces like the community was calling for, the Labor Government unleashed potentially lethal violence on protesters.
“We call on the Premier to stop now and cancel Land Forces 2026. Melbourne is a peaceful city, we do not want taxpayer money platforming weapons companies that profit from oppression and genocide.”
Quotes attributable to the Victorian Greens spokesperson for Justice, Katherine Copsey:
“This report has painted a chilling picture of our democracy, where peaceful protesters have been deliberately hurt and intimidated by police.
“Police should be respecting and protecting people’s right to protest, but instead we have seen peaceful protesters, people who are on the ground or posing no threat, met with excessive force and intimidation.
“It is incumbent on the Premier to reflect and learn from the incidents outlined in this report. We must ensure that Victoria does not head towards a future where people are punished for exercising their democratic rights.”