Overview

• The Women Will Speak rally gathered about 50 supporters on the steps of Victoria’s Parliament House to defend sex-based rights against gender identity policies.
• Around 80 pro-trans counter-protesters marched through Melbourne’s CBD, chanting slogans and setting off flares before being held back by police.
• Scuffles erupted involving oleoresin capsicum spray and flares; four people were arrested for assaulting an officer, possessing flares and failing to move on, and three officers sustained minor injuries.
• Victoria Police used water-filled barriers, conducted roughly 145 random searches and issued 50 face-cover removal orders under designated area powers.
• Officers had earlier warned of online calls to interfere with journalists and acted on unverified reports that extremist groups planned to gatecrash the rally.