In 2019, during a protest at an international mining conference in Melbourne, a 39-year-old climate activist known as Timothy Buchanan alleged that members of Victoria police’s riot squad had physically assaulted him. His head was reportedly slammed against a metal wall, the ground, and a glass door, leading to the activist’s lawsuit against the state. The civil case, which accused police of misconduct, concluded with a payments of $90,000 from Victoria police to Buchanan, as confirmed by Guardian Australia. This settlement occurred just days before a class action trial concerning the police’s alleged excessive use of OC (oleoresin capsicum) spray at the same conference. A spokesperson for the police force stated that the settlement had no relation to ongoing legal proceedings about the OC spray. Buchanan, who identifies as a Wiradjuri person, had taken part in protests against mining at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre where police officers arrested many proestors on October 29, 2019. Buchanan claimed that Sgt Nicholas Bolzonello initially restrained them by the shirt and that he was subsequently tackled by other officers. The state argued that the officers used force to ensure safety and manage the arrest, denying allegations of head slamming against a wall and then against a glass door. Police also stated they were denying derogatory comments directed at Buchanan. Buchanan and his lawyer, Jeremy King, expressed disappointment in the settlement, with King pointing out that there’s a lack of effective oversight of the police, which makes legal action a necessary means to enforce accountability. The activist’s lawyer also emphasized the importance of free speech and peaceful protest rights in democratic societies. The settlement did not involve any admission of wrongdoing by the police.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/07/victoria-police-pay-90000-to-climate-protester-who-claimed-head-was-slammed-imarc-2019-ntwnfb