Pro-Palestine protesters have stormed a Labor state conference in Melbourne amid heightened tensions over the Israel-Hamas war.
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Victorian Labor Party members and union delegates are gathering at the Moonee Valley Racecourse on Saturday for the two-day event.
Dozens of pro-Palestine protesters breached security and entered the course, forcing staff to lock the doors to the conference room.
A security guard fell to the ground as he attempted to stop protesters walking up an escalator.
After making their way upstairs, the group chanted "Labor Party you can't hide, you're supporting genocide" in a credential area.
They then started banging on the conference room doors, before police moved them downstairs.
"I just want to let everyone know the protesters which were outside have been moved on," Labor official Pamela Anderson told the conference.
"And just want to reassure anyone who has a child in childcare that they are not near that area and ... it is safe and secure."
The security breach has delayed speeches from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Jacinta Allan.
Earlier, a man trying to walk into the conference was swarmed by activists, before police intervened and walked him out of the area.
Senator Lidia Thorpe was among those to give speeches as the group chanted "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" and suggested several Labor leaders had "blood on their hands".
Domestic tensions remain high over Israel's invasion and bombing of Gaza following the October 7 terror attack by Hamas.
Several motions related to the conflict are scheduled for debate on Saturday afternoon, including one calling for an "end to military co-operation with Israel".
At last year's meeting, Victorian Labor members passed a motion for the Albanese government to recognise Palestinian statehood within this term of parliament.
Days after the federal budget was handed down, the prime minister is expected to tout his government's $32 billion housing investment.
"We are doing all this in spite of the opposition we've faced from the Liberals and the Greens," Mr Albanese will tell the party faithful.
"The Liberals have a pathological problem with affordable housing, always have.
"And while the Greens ... talk a lot about housing, the only thing they want to build is their profile."
It is the first state party conference since Ms Allan succeeded Daniel Andrews as premier.
Victorian Labor's dominant socialist left faction is expected to lead a controversial motion to strip rank-and-file members of their right to vote for a new state leader.
In September, senior right faction MP Ben Carroll threatened to challenge Ms Allan for the leadership after Mr Andrews' resignation.
It would have forced a vote among party members, who currently get an equal say in deciding the leader when more than one MP nominates, but the situation was avoided when a deal was struck for Mr Carroll to become deputy premier.
Dozens of party members and union delegates turned their backs and shouted "shame" as he addressed the crowd.
Another motion demands the government not sell off public land as part of its plan to knock down and rebuild Melbourne's 44 towers by 2051.
While the redevelopment plan would increase the number of residents living in the estates from 10,000 to 30,000, places reserved for social housing will only rise to 11,000.
Australian Associated Press
