Pro-Palestinian protesters have been lashed as bullies and anti-Semites by Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan after storming a Labor state conference in Melbourne amid heightened tensions over the Hamas-Israel war.
Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters breached security and entered Moonee Valley Racecourse on Saturday as Victorian Labor MPs, members and unionists gathered for the two-day event.
A security guard fell to the ground as he attempted to stop protesters walking up an escalator.
Security and police intervened to stop activists from disrupting the conference. Source: AAP / Con Chronis
After making their way upstairs, the group chanted “Labor Party you can’t hide, you’re supporting genocide” in a credential area.
They then started banging on the conference room doors, before police moved them downstairs.
“I just want to let everyone know that the protesters which were outside have been moved on,” a Labor official told the party faithful.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman told AAP the protesters left without incident and no arrests were made.
and Premier Jacinta Allan and temporarily prevented members and MPs from entering.
After her speech, the premier took to social media to condemn the intruders for allegedly bringing “violence, homophobia and anti-Semitism” to the conference.
“I’m disgusted. No one should be cowered by these bullies,” she wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“As premier, my priority is a cohesive society where all Victorians feel safe and respected.”
Earlier, a man trying to walk into the conference was swarmed by activists, before police intervened and walked him out of the area.
Senator Lidia Thorpe was among those to give speeches as the group chanted “” and suggested several Labor leaders had “blood on their hands”.
Domestic tensions remain high over Israel’s invasion and bombing of Gaza following the 7 October terror attack by Hamas.
Several motions related to the conflict are scheduled for debate on Saturday afternoon, including one calling for an “end to military co-operation with Israel”.
At last year’s meeting, Victorian Labor members passed a motion for the Albanese government to recognise Palestinian statehood within this term of parliament.
It is the first state party conference since Allan succeeded Daniel Andrews as premier.
A motion slated for debate demands the government guarantee it won’t sell off public land as part of its plan to knock down and rebuild Melbourne’s 44 high-rise public housing towers by 2051.
While the redevelopment plan would increase the number of residents living in the estates from 10,000 to 30,000, places reserved for social housing will only rise to 11,000.
Was the security able to effectively prevent the protesters from causing further disruption at the conference?