Pro-Palestinian protesters have stormed a Labor state conference in Melbourne amid heightened tensions over the Hamas-Israel war.
Victorian Labor Party members and union delegates are gathering at the Moonee Valley Racecourse on Saturday for the two-day event.
Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters breached security and entered the course, forcing staff to lock the doors to the conference room.
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 the protesters which were outside have been moved on,” Labor official Pamela Anderson told the conference.
“And just want to reassure anyone who has a child in childcare that they are not near that area and … it is safe and secure.”
and Premier Jacinta Allan.
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.