By Joe Montero

Last week, from 11 to the 14 September to be precise, an important protest against the holding of the Land forces convention in Melbourne took place, and it attracted an unprecedented and violent police response. There are still quite a few good people who still don’t appreciate the truth of what happened, since they have been influenced by prejudiced media that reversed the truth and ongoing loyalty to Labor or the Coalition.

Don’t believe that what happened was about the prevention and stopping of violence. It was premeditated state violence aimed at achieving the political aim of getting the political elite and those who stand behind them with their money and influence off the hook.

I, as a witness on the scene, together with a multitude of other witnesses can testify to the truth. The nature of the police action had been pre-planned. Evidence of this was in the visible preparation of police offers with protective eye covering and mask, but most of all with the hostile demeanour of those in command.

What happened gained a great deal of national and international attention. It exposed the extent of Australian involvement in the arms trade and put on view what was supposed to be away from the public’s eyes. Reports suggest that in the circumstances attendance was much lower than expected.

The morning of 11 September began with a series of violent sorties as the crowd was gathering, taking the form of groups four or five police charging into the crowd spraying capsicum spray indiscriminately. A few individuals were dragged away and arrested for minor things like bad languish, throwing half a cup of water. Even for being dressed in a pantomime costume and playing out a role made one a target. These tactics designed to breed anger, scale up the tension and induce violence.

Deployment of the Syndey anti-terrorist squad was the worst of all. Without warning and without incident, except the failure of using horses to clear the area – many peacefully and bravely refused to move – a volley of rubber bullets, stun grenades were fired at random into the crowd. Then there was the running charge behind a wall of more capsicum spray. Those who fell to the ground were sprayed by multiple police officers while they were still down. They were kicked and punched.

The initial attack was followed by further attacks of a similar type. The pattern continued for the day. Over the next few days, the focus of the police was to harass with ongoing threats and groups of police conducting personal searches for weapons on orders from command.

Through all of this, there was almost no violence, if you include few throwing plastic water bottles, and one incident of flying horse dung. This hardly constitutes significant violence or any real threat. The response was way out of proportion in any case. There were some skips and wheely bins set on fire. But this was after the sustained attacks on the first day. A few sought to slow down further attacks by this means.

More than 100 were injured by the impact of rubber bullets and stun grenades. Media was not immune. A photographer was hit on the head by a rubber bullet. He lost part of his ear. A journalist in the stomach. Police prevented ambulance assistance for a time. injuries occurred from being pushed over, deliberately being hit in the face by shields, and from inhaling chemicals.

Combined with failures in a range of other area, like dealing with the worsening cost of living crisis, lack of affordable housing, decline in real jobs, rising secrecy and big brother intrusion. And of course, there is the clumsy and illegitimate treatment of the CFMEU that has caused deep seated anger within Labor’s working-class base, to the extent that it’s generating a new electoral movement to support neither Labor nor the Coalition. Labor’s legitimacy is in decline, and a at time when the next federal election draws closer.

There are several plausible alternative explanations as to why this happened. It was all premeditated because federal government is in an awkward position with its policy towards Israel’s attack on Gaza with the associated mass slaughter of civilians. It’s failure to condemn this and participation in military aid to Israel, have contributed to an unprecedented movement. One which has managed to organise large scale marches every single Sunday a few weeks short of one year and other activities. The Albanese government has lost public support on this.

Don’t assume this is a problem for Labor only. The coalition parties are in their own decline. It’s the political establishment as a whole that is losing the confidence of the people. If we believe what the opinion polls are saying, we are heading for an era of minority government.

All of this played to generate what happened last week in Melbourne. The Victorian government was enmeshed in part because of pressure from Canberra, and part because it has invested on the arms industry as a pillar for investment and growing the economy. It [played a direct role in setting the conditions through alleging violence to happen weeks before and promising tough policing. It became enmeshed through its instructions to Victoria’s police.

This led to a significant step towards new era of harsh policing of the Victorian community. A new step away from service to enforcing compliance. The new reality is significant, and fits into the nationwide pattern. Intolerance is on the rise and unsanctioned views and activities meet increasing repression.

The threat goes way past what happened in the vicinity on the Convention Centre. It applies to everyone. If unchecked, the same sort of response will become an increasing feature in dealing with all forms of political activity, industrial disputes, and perhaps even sporting events. This is also generating a policing culture where the citizens are designated as the enemy.

Victoria’s anti-terrorism act is the vehicle for this shift. It mirrors acts in other states and territories. Many warned when these laws were made that they will eventually be used far more widely than merely real terrorist threats, and this is now happening. The state’s anti-terrorist law enabled the cutting away of basic democratic rights and protections before the law in a designated area and the whim of a minister or police chief. It gave a blank check for those who carry out the policing to do whatever they like.

First of all, there must be a proper investigation into what the police did last week, aimed at ensuring this doesn’t happen again. Secondly, the Anti-Terrorism Act must be repealed. Without these two musts, Victorians will remain under threat. These two changes would assist the removal of similar anti-democratic laws around the country.