THE CONTAINER Transport Alliance Australia (CTAA) said trucks in Melbourne have today (11 September) been targeted by protesters, describing the acts as a dangerous escalation of coordinated vandalism against the freight industry.
The CTAA says at least five heavy vehicles have been targeted while stopped at major intersections, with protesters cutting air lines between the trucks’ prime mover and the trailer combination to immobilise the vehicles.
The industry association affirms that container freight movements were severely impacted today as trucks in various locations around Melbourne were targeted.
The attacks have led the CTAA to suggest “these were deliberate and premeditated acts of vandalism”.
The CTAA believes that protesters have been “schooled” in what equipment needs to be severed to disable the truck’s braking capacity, thereby rendering the truck immobile.
The instances are part of a larger series of protests that have rocked Melbourne today, as interactions between police and protesters were marred by violence and arrests.
The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) became the protests’ focal site, with significant numbers of protesters descending upon the city’s South Wharf district starting this morning.
The MCEC is hosting this year’s Land Forces Expo 2024, which began today. It is a military and defence exposition in which Australian businesses market their products to potential contractors. The expo will run for three days, concluding on 13 September.
The Supreme Court of Victoria previously authorised the use of special police powers under the Terrorism Act 2003, in order to protect persons attending the Land Forces Expo from a terrorist act.
The Supreme Court stipulated the special powers may only be exercised in a selected area, encompassing the MCEC and certain surrounding areas, between 1200 on 6 September and 1159 on 15 September.
Some of the special powers granted to police in the selected area during this time period includes the rights to search persons and vehicles, move vehicles, and seize and detain things.
Police were described to have used rubber bullets, stun grenades, tear gas, and pepper spray to subdue protesters, with dozens of individuals having been arrested over the course of the day. The total number of arrests has yet to be revealed by police.
The CTAA said it believes it is likely that the protests will continue for the remainer of this week.
“The CTAA has asked the Victorian Government through the Department of Transport to facilitate a plan for heavy vehicles up to 85.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Mass to be allowed to temporarily detour via the Bolte Bridge to access to/from Webb Dock,” the CTAA said.
