Occupy Melbourne

Occupy Melbourne
Part of the "Occupy" protests
Occupy Melbourne eviction
Date 15 October 2011 – present (&100000000000000000000000 years, &1000000000000003900000039 days) Location Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 48°55′55″N 57°59′56″E / 48.932°N 57.999°E / 48.932; 57.999 Status Ongoing Causes Economic inequality, corporate influence over government, inter alia. Characteristics Demonstration, occupation, protest, street protesters
Number
3,500 at peak (150 sleeping at peak) 50-100 sleeping currently
Casualties
Arrests: Injuries: 107 48

Thousand Warrior March passing Occupy Melbourne protest in Treasury Gardens

Occupy Melbourne is a social movement currently taking place as part of the global Occupy movements, in Melbourne, Australia. The occupation began on October 15 in City Square and has since moved to three other sites, currently occupying Treasury Gardens and assembling in City Square. Common issues uniting the movement include economic inequality, social injustice, corruption in the financial sector, corporate greed and the influence of companies and lobbyists on government.

Since October 15, dozens of marches, rallies, demonstrations and pickets have taken place. An estimated 20,000 people have gone through the various occupied sites, the biggest march attracting 3,500 people. Melbourne's largest General Assembly was attended by over 2,000 people. At peak in City Square over 150 people were sleeping overnight. The occupation is in its 40th day as of late November.

History

Timeline:

• Day 1-7 – City Square occupation and General Assemblies
• Day 8-15: Offsite working group meetings and regroup following City Square eviction
• Day 15-18: State Library occupation and General Assemblies
• Day 19-present: Treasury Gardens occupation and City Square General Assemblies

Day 1-7: City Square occupation

On 19 October, during a radio interview between City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle and Occupy Melbourne Media team member Nick Carson, the Lord Mayor expressed the desire for a peaceful end to the protest, but that authorties would use force if necessary.^[1] Police were asked to evict protesters from the Square.^[2]

• 1st Eviction:

On 21 October, over 100 police, some dressed in riot gear, forceably removed protesters from Melbourne City Square. Some saw this as an overreaction and police denied they had used excessive force.

Adam Bandt, the Member of the Australian Parliament for Melbourne, criticized the decision to remove protestors saying "Premier Ted Baillieu and Lord Mayor Robert Doyle have made a huge blunder by sending in the police, turning a week-long non-violent protest into a site of confrontation." 95 people were arrested and 1 was taken to hospital for treatment.^[3][4] Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu praised police for the way they broke up the Occupy Melbourne protest on Friday and said protesters had broken their promise to leave peacefully.^[5] Protestors called for a full inquiry into unlawful police behaviour and violence associated with their eviction of participants of the Occupy Melbourne protest.^[6]

Robert Doyle defended his decision to evict the Occupy Melbourne protesters, stating that they were "a self-righteous, narcissistic, self-indulgent rabble tried to capture the city" and that a "hard core of serial and professional protesters" were involved.^[7]

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan said the Occupy demonstrations in Australia and around the world have intensified debate about social and economic inequality in societies across the globe. However, Mr Swan said while the protests don't have a concrete set of aims or demands, those in Sydney and Melbourne should not have resulted in violence.

"There seems to be a growing sense of frustration in many countries that opportunities are not being evenly shared and that the burden of the global economic downturn has been carried by those that can least bear it."^[8]

Robert Doyle later commented "We don't intend to allow people to set up tents anywhere in the city. We have adopted a zero-tolerance policy."^[9]

Day 8-15: Regroup

For 1 week following the eviction from City Square, working groups and committees continued to function off site as the occupation regrouped.

Day 15-18: State Library occupation

Approximately 200-300 people remained on the State Library lawn after the move from Bowen Lane. 15-20 slept on the first night, while 30-50 slept each night thereafter.

• 2nd Eviction:

During the first night at the State Library, a group of 60-80 had initially been occupying the State Library entry portico, but moved to the lawn following threats from Victoria Police. 15-20 people were removed from the State Library lawn in the early hours of the morning, no arrests were made. These people immediately moved back onto the lawn, where they slept that night without tents or structures.

Day 19-present: Treasury Gardens occupation

Following a decision at Melbourne's 11th General Assembly, Occupy Melbourne moved from the State Library lawn to Treasury Gardens and established an occupation without tents or structures.

On November 12, a decision was passed supporting the autonomy of individuals to set up their own tents and marquees following the erection of a First Nations Embassy at the occupation.

On November 16, 160 police were called in by City of Melbourne officers to remove the First Nations Embassy. Occupiers peacefully defended the embassy, 3 people were arrested, 3 were charged with obstructing a council officer.

On November 18, 70 police were called in by City of Melbourne officers to remove the community sleeping tarpaulin. Occupiers peacefully defended the tarpaulin. 8 people were arrested.

On November 23, a contingent of police were called in by City of Melbourne officers to remove the First Aid Facilities, there were no arrests.

See also

	Social movements portal
	Australia portal

• List of global Occupy movement protest locations

References

1. ^ "Minutes of first Occupy Melbourne General Assembly - October 15th 2011". Melbourne Indymedia. October 22, 2011. http://www.indymedia.org.au/2011/10/15/minutes-of-first-occupy-melbourne-general-assembly-october-15th-2011. Retrieved October 22, 2011. 
2. ^ "Protesters vow to stay as Doyle urges peaceful end". The Age. 19 October 2011. http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/protesters-vow-to-stay-as-doyle-urges-peaceful-end-20111019-1m6zs.html. Retrieved October 22, 2011. 
3. ^ "Doyle accused of heavy-handedness in halting occupation". The Age. October, 19 2011. http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/doyle-accused-of-heavyhandedness-in-halting-occupation-20111021-1mck9.html. Retrieved October 22, 2011. 
4. ^ "Occupy Melbourne protesters forcibly removed from City Square". Heraldsun. 22 October 2011. http://occupymelbourne.com.au/2011/10/occupy-melbourne-protesters-forcibly-removed/. Retrieved Octobe, 22r 2011. 
5. ^ Premier praises police over protest action, The Age, 23 October 2011
6. ^ Police Violence Warrants Full Inquiry: Occupy Melbourne, Media Release: Friday 21 October 2011
7. ^ Selfish rabble got what it deserved, Herald Sun, 23 October 2011
8. ^ Swan disappointed by Occupy violence, Ninemsn.com.au
9. ^ Occupy Melbourne protesters know to police, Ken Lay says, Herald Sun

External links

• Official website