Shane McInnes fires up about masked protesters as police hunt violent thugs

3AW host Shane McInnes has fired up about protesters who choose to conceal their identity.

It comes after Victoria Police today released images of eight people who allegedly assaulted police at a protest in the CBD last month.

“The fact that it is still permissible to wear a mask to a protest in Victoria, is nothing less than a disgrace,” McInnes said on 3AW Drive.

Press PLAY to hear him fire up about the issue (including his pointed message towards masked protesters)

“Peaceful protesting may be a right in Victoria, thuggery and violence though, certainly is not.”

The Allan government introduced new measures into parliament on Wednesday, allowing for police to ask people they believe to have committed or will commit a crime at a protest to remove their mask.

But extremism researcher, Professor Joshua Roose, isn’t surprised that the new laws have been “watered down”.

Press PLAY to hear him explain why

“The rhetoric was certainly very strong from the Premier about the mask ban going a lot further, including lot allowing masks at all,” Professor Roose told Shane McInnes.

Images: Victoria Police, 3AW