Pro-Palestine supporters storm Labor conference in Melbourne
Pro-Palestine supporters have stormed the Labor party's state conference in Melbourne. The protest forced the venue into lockdown and delayed speeches from the prime minister and Victoria's premier.
Category
đź“ş
TVTranscript
00:00 First, the angry crowd blocked Labor's path to its annual conference, before storming
00:07 the venue in a major security breach. Behind this wall, the main event, delayed in the
00:15 chaos. Eventually ejected, the doors were locked, forcing ministers, MPs and delegates
00:22 still outside to face the protests and personal abuse.
00:26 The idea that you would be violent and aggressive in the name of peace is a contradiction. It's
00:29 like burning books for literacy. You don't do your own cause any good, storming through
00:33 where we were minding the kids. I think everyday Australians will look at those antics and
00:38 say whatever you're selling, we don't want to buy.
00:41 Labor, you are done.
00:43 Earlier, Independent Senator Lydia Thorpe addressed pro-Palestinian supporters, while
00:47 inside leaders finally emerged after the lockdown.
00:51 As we've seen today, there are those who want to distract us, to silence us, to scare us.
00:57 But our movement and our party is one of the oldest in the world.
01:01 The Premier later talked to social media to call out the violence, homophobia and anti-Semitism
01:06 of the crowd, a descriptor the rally organisers rejected.
01:10 As the Prime Minister tried to spruik his latest budget, there was more, albeit less,
01:15 disruptive dissent.
01:16 A future that we can make right here in Australia. Thank you very much.
01:23 There was more than one cause being pushed. The United Workers Union, representing school
01:27 cleaners, interrupted Education Minister Ben Carroll's speech of the privatisation of
01:32 school cleaners.
01:33 The government did score some wins, with new laws to crack down on people who abuse and
01:37 assault retail, fast food and public transport workers. Shefali Bhatta was stabbed while
01:42 on the job at a supermarket.
01:44 I don't feel safe working in that kind of environment. I want proper laws.
01:47 If you think workers are there to absorb your aggression, your threats or intimidation,
01:52 you're wrong and you will regret your actions.
01:55 Delegates here also secured changes to the government's public housing rebuild to ensure
01:59 it stays in public hands. The day ended with motions in support of Palestine, including
02:04 the right to self-determination, and calls for an immediate ceasefire.
02:08 Now is the time, and if not us, then who? And if not now, then when?
02:15 Labor values are incompatible with recognising a Palestinian state under Hamas.
02:21 The motions passed with overwhelming support.
02:23 [BLANK_AUDIO]