Melbourne is bracing for a tense weekend, with authorities and residents preparing for major demonstrations and potential clashes in the CBD.
Today, Saturday, rival groups – including the Free Palestine Coalition, Rally Against Racism, Save Australia, and Australia Unites Against Government Corruption – are staging separate rallies across the city’s central streets. On Sunday, the city will host its 100th consecutive pro-Palestinian march, expected to again shut down much of the CBD.
Police revealed that 23,000 policing shifts, costing up to $7 million, have been diverted to manage the protests since they began. Hundreds of officers, mounted units, highway patrols, and critical response teams have been deployed for the weekend, with authorities refusing to reveal exact numbers for security reasons.
Business owners and workers are on edge. One café owner, speaking anonymously, said: “We never know if it’s worth opening on protest days. Customers avoid the city, and one reckless act could destroy your livelihood. Enough is enough – we need government support.” Wendy Sarnto, who works at a Bourke Street shoe store, added: “These rallies slow trade and damage small businesses.”
Scott Veenker, CEO of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, warned of the mounting financial toll: “Tens of millions of taxpayer dollars are going to policing protests, not easing cost-of-living pressures. Foot traffic stops, bookings are canceled, and retail collapses weekly.” Restaurant and café industry leader Wes Lambert added that many venues may not open at all this weekend.
Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny emphasized that violence would not be tolerated: “People have the right to peaceful protest, but harming businesses or causing chaos is unacceptable.” Meanwhile, the opposition has reintroduced a bill to overhaul protest laws and create a registration scheme for rallies – legislation blocked by the Allan government in August.
Lord Mayor Nick Reece urged would-be demonstrators to stay home: “Shopkeepers, churches, and residents are fed up. The harm being done outweighs any good.”
