A second Black Lives Matter rally in Adelaide won't be given an exemption from coronavirus restrictions and anyone attending runs the risk of being fined or arrested.
SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens says while permission was given for the first protest last Saturday, there will be no such approval for a second event this weekend.
"There will be no exemption in place which means people who attend run the risk of being issued an expiation notice or, if they persist, there is a risk of being reported or arrested," the commissioner said on Tuesday.
"Our first step will always be to caution people, but if we see a blatant disregard of that advice we reserve the right to take further action.
"I would encourage people not to attend any further of these protest activities."
A crowd of protesters gather while holding placards and flags during the demonstration at Adelaide's Victoria Square Source: Getty Images
At the first protest, more than 5000 people gathered in Victoria Square in Adelaide in what police praised as a well-organised event.
Those attending were calling for justice over the death of African-American man George Floyd during his arrest in the US and ongoing concerns over indigenous deaths in custody.
Many people wore masks and some tried to socially-distance but most remained in close quarters.
Organisers and police also passed around hand sanitiser.
"Rather than try to stop it or ignore significant breaches of directions, we approved it so we had some control and some ability to influence the way it was conducted," Mr Stevens said.
"I'm pleased it was a safe and well-run event but that can't happen every weekend otherwise the restrictions do become a mockery."
Premier Steven Marshall said he appreciated the frustration and anxiety surrounding the issue but backed Commissioner Stevens' decision to grant the first exemption.
"He made it very clear to me that he wanted to work with the organisers and while it was an illegal rally that would have been impossible," he said.
Leaders speak out
Meanwhile, in Western Australia, Premier Mark McGowan has pleaded with protesters to avoid demonstrations this weekend.
Mr McGowan stressed any rallies were not within the state's coronavirus restrictions and called on people to not flout the rules "put in place to protect people's health".
"My requests to them, or my urging of them, is not to attend and not to breach the rules," he said.
"When we're past this difficult period, the COVID period, when we're sure that we're out the other side when we ease restrictions, that's the time to hold big rallies."
Protesters in Perth's CBD during a Black Lives Matter rally Source: AAP
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said no-one should have been at Melbourne's Black Lives Matter protest on Saturday, despite it being a "worthy cause".
More than 10,000 people marched from Victoria's parliament to Flinders Street Station on Saturday afternoon in solidarity with anti-racism protesters in the US, following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police.
"A worthy cause but a fundamentally irresponsible thing to do, we won't know the results of that for another two weeks," he said.
Mr Andrews has urged anyone who attended the protests to get tested if they were to develop coronavirus symptoms.
He added it was not feasible to fine everyone who attended the protest, nor shut down Melbourne's CBD.
"As Victorian Police made very clear, we weren't able to stop people, you can't lock 10,000 people, up, you just can't do that." Mr Andrews said.
"But the rules are there for a reason, the rules are there for every single Victorian, not just the vulnerable."
In Queensland, Katter's Australian Party MP Nick Dametto has called for all coronavirus fines in the state to be ripped up after a crowd of around 30,000 turned out for a Black Lives Matter Protest in Brisbane.
A general view of protesters outside Flinders Street station as Police look on Source: Getty Images
Mr Dametto started a parliamentary petition calling the Queensland Government's coronavirus rules, which prohibit all public gatherings exceeding 20 people, "hypocritical".
According to Queensland Police, no fines had been issued during Saturday's protest although protesters defied restrictions.
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