Victoria Police officer Senior Constable Kim Dixon could not work for some eight months after being attacked by rampaging rioters at the G20 Forum in Melbourne during 2006.
As of February 2008, she was still being treated for her injuries.
The ultra-left rioters - some of them associated with the notoriously corrupt University of Melbourne Student Union - repeatedly assaulted Police, smashed Police vehicles, threw barriers at Police doing their job by protecting a business conference.
And yet a Victorian Magistrate, herself appointed not long after these incidents occurred by Rob Hulls, Sarah Dawes has bent over backwards to keep them out of jail when sentencing them today.
It's easy to second-guess those responsible criminal sentencing. And there's much to be said for keep young people out of jail. We can understand that there are no easy answers in deciding people's futures.
But there's no doubt in my mind that if the rioters had conducted themselves in that way in any other context other than protesting against the United States and against capitalism they would be rotting in jail for a good long time.
If they were neo-Nazis attacking Police in the same way, they would have been slotted for years. And rightly so.
If they were boozed-soaked hoons who'd just left King Street strip joints who'd attacked Police in the same way, they would have received lengthy sentences.
So the message is clear. If you are attending a demonstration - particularly for a left-wing cause - you can wear a mask, attack Police (including with batons), cause them serious and long-term injuries, swear at them, smash Police vehicles and so on without going to jail.
And just like Magistrate Sarah Dawes, that seems pretty stupid.
Game on.
since failed candidate 
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