Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has hit out against protesters planning to cause disruption at Melbourne Park during Sunday’s Australian Open men’s singles final, branding any such plots as ‘disgusting’.
Ms Allan told Australia Day protesters to avoid Melbourne Park on January 26 and also said that police would be prepared to handle any anti-social behaviour.
‘To target the Australian Open would be a disgusting act,’ the Premier said.
While she admitted that Australia Day can be a ‘difficult day’ for some citizens, Ms Allan added that any trouble at the tennis tournament would ‘really break the patience of the public.’
The organisers of the protests state that they do not have any plans to disrupt the final day of the Australian Open, despite reports emerging in the week that the protests had threatened to cause disruption at the tennis.
One of the organisers of the Australia Day rally, Tarneen Onus Browne, said the claims were not true and that the march would follow the route it has used over the past 10 years.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has branded any attempts to plan Australia Day protests at this Sunday’s Australian Open men’s singles final as ‘disgusting’
Allan urged protesters not to converge on Melbourne Park for it’s final day and added that any trouble during the final day of the tournament would ‘really break the patience of the public.’
It is being anticipated that more than 30,000 protesters are expected to converge on Melbourne this Sunday to protest on January 26
She added that misinformation over where the protests had planned to move ’causes more harm and distress to the communities,’ according to ABC.
Police say separate pro-Australia Day protests have been planned for areas close to Melbourne Park.
‘Police have engaged with the event organisers and they have provided information about their plans,’ a Victoria Police spokesperson said.
Ms Allan stated that police would be operationally equipped to cope with the large protests.
‘Let’s be clear, Victoria Police are operationally ready. They will be there in large numbers,’ the Premier said.
‘No one should be using that right to peacefully protest and going in with the intent to cause violence.’
Tennis Australia said they support the right for citizens to protest peacefully in Australia. But the organisation added that they would be working in tandem with police in relation to stop disruption to the tournament.
‘While there is a place for peaceful protest in society, any activity intended to disrupt the tournament or impact fans’ enjoyment of the event will be managed in accordance with the AO25 ticket terms and conditions,’ Tennis Australia said in a statement.
Ms Allan said that Victoria Police are well prepared to deal with the protests. A spokesperson from the police force said that officers will be ‘highly visible in the area’
Tennis Australia added that they will be working with the police force to ensure that things go smoothly on Sunday
There are concerns that more than 30,000 people could take to the streets in the Victorian capital, with business owners bracing for huge disruptions around the CBD.
Victoria Police have been preparing for the day which also could see pro-Palestinian protesters march through the city.
‘Victoria Police is aware of a planned protest outside Melbourne Park on January 26,’ Victoria Police said.
‘Officers will be highly visible in the area on the day.’
Ms Allan, meanwhile, called for all citizens to show respect, no matter their stance on Australia Day.
‘I think we can all find space in our hearts to respect that, to understand that,’ the Premier said.
‘Respect also goes both ways. We’ve got to make sure that for those who want to acknowledge the day in their own way have the space to do that.’
The men’s final is due to take place on Sunday afternoon, with the finalists to be decided tomorrow afternoon.
Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev will square off in the first semi-final, while Ben Shelton and Jannik Sinner will do battle in the second semi-final.
Djokovic is gunning to win his 11th title at Melbourne Park, and his 25th Grand Slam this week at the age of 37.
