<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A two-year police operation to keep the peace during the weekly pro-Palestine </span><a href="http://www.9news.com.au/protests" rel="" target="" title="protests"><span>protests</span></a><span>has cost Victorian taxpayers more than $25 million.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The cost was revealed in a parliamentary budget office report and doesn't include the cost to backfill officers called to the frontline.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Shadow police minister David Southwick claimed 43 police stations across the state had been working under reduced hours because officers were "babysitting these protesters".</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/new-zealand-man-issued-ticket-for-eight-second-car-park/5769995d-ed51-4c93-972a-0eef68d12198" target="_blank"><strong><span>'Obscene': Driver given ticket for 'eight seconds' in parking spot</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>CBD businesses say the interruption to their weekend trade is destroying their livelihoods.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association claims businesses suffered a drop in trade of up to 50 per cent during protests.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Cafe owner Johnny Vakalis recently sold his cafe on Flinders Lane.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/report-reveals-cost-to-taxpayer-of-protests-in-melbourne-cbd-victoria-news/b4843f84-a478-448c-92b8-565ca0d61cf1" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Having those protests... you can tell in your figures... they drop so dramatically," he told 9News.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"What family is going to bring their kids into the city when there's a protest?"</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Victorian energy minister Lily D'Ambrosio said people have a "right to protest".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They should, of course, do that very peacefully," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The government has blocked calls for a protest permit system by the opposition.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We have become the protest capital of Australia," deputy opposition leader Sam Groth said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Let's be honest about the impact these protests are having on Melbourne's CBD."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Melbourne City Council is exploring a permit system of its own.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are doing this because the state government has dropped the ball," Councillor Owen Guest said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple App Store</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>.</span></em></strong></div></div>