Melbourne’s never-ending CBD protests have cost taxpayers over $25 million, according to a new Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) analysis exclusively obtained by the Herald Sun. The report reveals the financial burden on Victoria Police far exceeds previous estimates of $7m, as the city braces for even more demonstrations in the coming weeks.
Between October 2023 and August 2025, police logged 23,928 shifts dedicated to protest monitoring—totalling $14.9m in salary costs, excluding overtime and allowances. An additional $10.2m covered communications, vehicle use, supplies, accommodation, and catering.
Opposition Leader Brad Battin called the figure “deeply concerning” amid record state debt, vowing to reinstate “move-on” powers scrapped by Labor in 2016. “We support the right to protest, but we don’t support intimidation, business disruption, or wasting police resources,” he said. Opposition Police spokesman David Southwick pushed for a protest permit system to “balance the right to protest with public safety.”
Retail and hospitality businesses are also suffering. Australian Restaurant and Café Association CEO Wes Lambert warned that dozens of venues now close on weekends, while those remaining open have reported revenue drops of up to 50 per cent. He urged government relief packages and landlord rent reductions.
The Melbourne City Council is grappling with post-protest clean-up costs of up to $8,500 per rally. Acting Lord Mayor Roshena Campbell said protests are “pulling vital resources away” from regular city maintenance and distressing local residents. The council has voted to advocate for a state and federal framework to manage protests more effectively.
Police are now preparing for further unrest following the city’s 100th pro-Palestinian rally and as anti-immigration and neo-Nazi groups continue to clash on Melbourne streets. A Victoria Police spokesperson noted that responding to protests is part of routine policing but acknowledged frustration over “disruptive, unplanned” events.
