One of Melbourne’s biggest protests in more than two decades is set to cost taxpayers millions of dollars, the state’s treasurer has revealed.
Tim Pallas today announced the week-long police operation would drain $15 million from taxpayers, as thousands of police resources are deployed to quell potential unrest surrounding the Land Forces Defence Expo.
Pallas defended the decision to hold the convention, claiming it was “bid for and achieved before the events in Gaza”.
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Anti-war protestors have been marching throughout the city since Saturday in an attempt to shut down the expo, which will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from tomorrow.
Police are expecting tomorrow’s demonstration to be the biggest the city has seen in over two decades, with 25,000 protestors expected to storm the area.
“We want Australia to not be complicit because it is actually against international law to be supplying weapons to Israel,” protest organiser Nathalie Farah said.
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While Premier Jacinta Allan said there was “no room” for “disruptive” behaviour in Victoria, Greens MP Gabrielle de Vietri announced she’ll be skipping parliament to attend the protest.
“We stand with the community who are protesting this weapons expo that should have never been happening in the first place,” de Vietri said.
Protestors are being warned that police have special powers around the perimeter of the venue and are set to be out in force from 6am tomorrow.
They will be able to use their additional powers to make arrests, give out move-on orders and search protestors for weapons.
City commuters are encouraged to avoid the area.
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