OCCUPY GROUP GETS TOP-END SUPPORT

Miki Perkins Published: October 9, 2012

HIGH-PROFILE candidates in the Melbourne City elections - including Gary Morgan and John Elliott - say they will support an independent inquiry into the eviction of Occupy Melbourne protesters last year.
And a march is planned for Saturday, to mark the one-year anniversary of the protest's high-profile conclusion, with organisers saying they will meet at the Trades Hall and then make their way to City Square.
Lobby group Real Democracy Australia, formed by people involved in Occupy Melbourne, has asked Melbourne candidates to support an inquiry into the criminal police violence/action that cleared the square in 2011.
Spokesman Carl Scrase said they were surprised at the positive response and were calling for an independent inquiry.
Lord-mayoral candidate Morgan, who is running with former Liberal Party president Elliott, said he would bow to the wishes of his teammate, incumbent councillor Jackie Watts, who supported calls for an inquiry after the protests.
''I think it's unfortunate it happened the way it did, we don't need to be arresting people, and police on horses,'' Mr Morgan said.
''I don't know much about the Occupy Melbourne group, but you don't want to see any protest which ends up that way.''
Lord-mayoral candidate Brian Shanahan voted against an inquiry as a councillor, but now supports the proposal.
''I don't believe that we can permit -this is symptomatic of the problem. Our public servants think that they can tell us what to do, THEY CAN'T. WE THE PEOPLE TELL OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS WHAT TO DO- Occupy Melbourne to occupy the City Square - it infringes on the rights of other people. However, we should be very careful … that proper process is followed in moving them.''
But violent lord mayor Robert Doyle said he did not see what an inquiry would achieve.
Occupy Melbourne had brought an action in the federal court, the most independent inquiry possible, Mr Doyle said.
''They could have argued on a range of grounds, but they chose a narrow clause about whether occupying crown land constitutes a protest,'' he said.
On Saturday, protesters will bring pots and pans to ''make noise for democracy''. But Mr Scrase said a reoccupation of City Square was not planned.
''There will be a forum and speeches, and we'll see what the community wants,'' he said.
A Melbourne City Council spokeswoman said the activity will be monitored.

This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/occupy-group-gets-topend-support-20121008-279ec.html