Blood-smeared ‘corpse’ protest outside premier’s office

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Pro-Palestine protesters have laid bloodied dolls representing corpses outside the offices of the Victorian premier and her deputy in a move described as malicious.

Jacinta Allan

Activist group No More Bodies in Gaza on Wednesday said it was behind the demonstration outside Jacinta Allan’s Bendigo office, with protesters putting the dolls smeared with fake blood on the pavement like “child corpses”.

“They are modelled on the horrific footage coming out of Gaza,” a spokesperson said.

The activist group also laid the dolls outside Deputy Premier Ben Carroll’s office at Niddrie in Melbourne’s northwest.

No More Bodies in Gaza has called for the state government to break its ties with Israel-based military technology company and defence contractor Elbit Systems, along with other Israeli manufacturers.

The government signed a secret agreement with Israel’s Ministry of Defence in December 2022.

Mr Carroll, who visited Israel in March, said the non-binding agreement was about sharing information and the activist group’s criticisms were “unfounded and malicious”.

“The most I have seen that Israel and Victoria have in common, from a defence point of view, is their exhibitions at the Avalon Airshow,” he said on Wednesday.

A Victoria Police spokesman told AAP the force was yet to receive a report about either incident as of Wednesday morning, but was looking into them and is investigating previous attacks on Ms Allan’s office.

Her office has been targeted three times in a matter of weeks but the premier said the latest demonstration was a first at her office by the activist group.

“This was, from what I can see, a different group who are raising concerns with the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Middle East,” she said.

“The federal government, as is appropriate, is speaking on behalf of the nation in terms of this ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Middle East.

“My focus and the government’s focus – and really should be the focus of all Victorians – is not to drive further division here.”

On Monday people used hammers to smash windows and spray painted red and purple graffiti that read “gutless”, “heartless” and “spineless”.

The estimated damage bill was about $4000.

“I particularly say this to the cowards who came to my office under the cover of darkness with hammers … that is not how you have political debate and discussion in Victoria,” the premier said.

Mr Carroll said he was taken aback by Wednesday’s demonstration and it was the first time his office has been targeted.

Police were also called to intervene a protest clash on Tuesday night, after the City of Melbourne Council voted down on a ceasefire motion.

Hundreds of people gathered outside Melbourne Town Hall in the presence of about 60 to 70 officers.

Two men and a woman from pro-Israel groups were issued move-on orders after disrupting a speech during the protest.

Acting inspector Leigh Howse said the overall crowd behaviour was reasonable.

Extra security was provided for councillors following several hours of debate, which led to a 6-5 vote against a motion to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Intergenerational conflicts in the Middle East region involving Palestinians and Israelis escalated on October 7 when Islamist militants linked to Hamas attacked southern Israel from Gaza.

More than 1200 people died and up to another 200 were taken hostage, according to the United Nations.

Israel’s subsequent military action has resulted in the deaths of more than 29,000 people in Gaza, with the UN citing data provided by the local ministry of health and Gaza government’s media office.

AAP