Premier calls for protests to stop

January 21, 2025 by David Marlow
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The Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has belatedly called for the regular weekly pro-Palestine protests in the Melbourne CBD to be stopped.

Pro-Palestinian rally in Melbourne 2021
Photo: Matt Hrkac/Wikimedia Commons

The protests have made the CBD a no-go zone for Melbourne’s Jewish community, as well as many in the general community, since the 7 October 2023 atrocities. The protests have been held every Sunday, intimidating and bullying Jews out of the city.

Allan has called for the weekly disruption in the CBD to be abandoned due to the Israel–Hamas ceasefire.

Allan said, “There is hurt on both sides here. What does not heal that hurt, what does not do the work to mend our social cohesion, is continuing to bring that sort of disruption to our streets. If they can find a space for a ceasefire in the Middle East, surely we can find a space for these protests to come to an end in Melbourne.”

“If the guns can be silenced in Gaza, then surely we can have peace brought to the streets in Melbourne, in Sydney, right around the country.”

The Jewish community has been calling on the state government to address the protests which typically express support for Hamas and it is commonly felt fires up antisemitism. It is not unusual for Hezbollah flags or Hamas symbols to be waved.

President of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) Philip Zajac said, “While we welcome the Premier’s strong words, a broad coalition of councillors, CBD business owners, CBD residents and the Jewish community have been requesting, for more than a year, that the Victorian Government act to free up Melbourne’s CBD. Victoria Police has long maintained its officers are doing what they can with the laws that are available. It is only the Government that can change laws to create a safe and accessible CBD.”

“Video from this week’s protest shows elderly public transport users being shoved aside at CDB tram stops. This has to stop.”

Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) president Nasser Mashni said the protests would continue, regardless of the ceasefire.

Mashni said, “Our protests, which take many forms, continue unabated because this ceasefire is not the end – it is a pause in Israel’s ongoing genocidal violence.”

The Greens and other far-left groups have supported the protests.

Allan welcomed the ceasefire but denounced the toxic antisemitism, and antisemitic incidents that culminated in the arson attack at the Adass Israel synagogue.

Allan said, “There have been some in our community who have chosen to use the cover of this conflict to inflict some of the most evil acts we have seen for some time. It is a cancer that we must cut out.”

Shadow Minister for Police and Member for Caulfield David Southwick told J-Wire, “The fact is, simply saying that these protests should stop is not good enough. Premier Jacinta Allan needs to show real leadership and take decisive action to ensure that these disruptive and often hateful demonstrations do not continue to hijack our city.”

“Victorians expect their government to uphold law and order, ensuring that public spaces remain safe and accessible for all, without fear of intimidation or disruption. It’s time for the Premier to move beyond words and take meaningful steps to protect our community.”

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