'I don't have a superman cape': Police Commissioner hits back at Scott Morrison after PM said all Black Lives Matter protesters should be charged for breaking public health rules
- A Black Lives Matter protest is planned in Perth on Saturday after other rallies
- Scott Morrison said everyone attending future protesters should be charged
- WA Police Commissioner said it was not possible to charge 10,000 people
- 'I can't wrap a super man cape around myself and issue 10,000 infringements'
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Western Australia Police Commissioner Chris Dawson has hit back at the Prime Minister's calls for all future Black Lives Matter protesters to be charged.
A protest is planned in Perth on Saturday after other rallies in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane last weekend sparked fears of a mass outbreak of coronavirus.
This morning Scott Morrison said police should charge anyone attending future protests with breaching public health orders.
'I really do think they should, you can't have a double standard here,' he told Melbourne radio 3AW.
Western Australia Police Commissioner Chris Dawson (pictured) has hit back at the Prime Minister's calls for all future Black Lives Matter protesters to be charged
Scott Morrison said plans for more protests over the coming days are 'completely unacceptable'
But Commissioner Dawson said it would be impossible to charge 10,000 people.
'I can't wrap a super man cape around myself and issue 10,000 infringements. I'd run out of infringement books,' he told reporters.
'We will be there and we will be ensuring people's safety.
'It's an imperfect answer. The alternative is not one that I want... and that is hundreds of people being arrested and grappling with police.'
Share this article
On Thursday a man who took part in the Black Lives Matter march in Melbourne last weekend tested positive to COVID-19.
The man in his 30s marched with thousands through the city on Saturday and developed symptoms 24 hours later.
The protester wore a mask and was not symptomatic at the time of the demonstration.
Health officials have said anyone who came face to face with the protester for 15 minutes or more will be asked to quarantine as part of the normal process.
Mr Morrison told 3AW's Neil Mitchell that despite the good intentions of their cause, protesters behaved selfishly over the weekend.
'Millions of quiet Australians… have done the right thing (while protesters) didn't seem to be that concerned about their health, or their businesses, or their jobs,' he said.
More than 60,000 Australians marched attend in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide to campaigning against racism and police brutality. Pictured: Sydney Town Hall Black Lives Matter Rally on Saturday
Mr Morrison said those who breach public health orders to attend rallies should be charged. Pictured: Protesters at Central Station the Black Lives Matter rally on Saturday
'People who would turn up to a rally this weekend wold be showing great disrespect to their neighbours.
'It's a free country and we have our liberties but the price of that liberty is exercising it responsibly.'
Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton, who warned people not to attend the rally, said: This case is unlikely to have been acquired at the protest but we were all concerned about the possibility of transmission occurring at that protest.'
Dr Sutton urged people not to attend any future demonstrations.
'We don't want people gathering in groups larger than 20 in Victoria because of the risk to others, it is my strong recommendation not to go and it is the law,' he said.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said protesters put the broader community's health at risk.
His no-holds-barred approach to rallies comes just hours after a Melbourne man who took part in the Black Lives Matter march in tested positive to COVID-19
'That was the obvious message from the medical experts about those rallies. And it was very unfortunate that they proceeded in the way that that did,' he said on Thursday.
On Thursday NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said the force will challenge an application to host a refugee protest in Sydney on Saturday.
The upcoming protest, hosted by the Refugee Action Coalition, is set to have 1000 attendees.
'We know that the organisers can't control the numbers,' Mr Fuller told 2GB's Ben Fordham on Thursday morning.
'We know that they can't meet the health obligations that are in place for everyone else.'
NSW Police said in a statement that the commissioner will apply to the Supreme Court 'to prohibit the assembly'.
'The NSW Police Force recognises and supports the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their rights of free speech and peaceful assembly, however; the first priority for NSW Police is always the safety of the wider community.'
Mr Morrison has the backing of NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller, who said the force will challenge an application to host a refugee protest in Sydney on Saturday
Comments 0
Share what you think
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
