A two-year policing operation to ensure weekly protests in Melbourne's centre against the carnage in Gaza go off without a hitch have cost taxpayers more than $25 million.
The figures from the Parliamentary Budget Office show Operation Park, launched in October 2023 by Victoria Police, show operational costs reached $10.2 million making up 40 per cent of total expenditure.
The other costs, $14.9 million, were in relation to police officer salaries to the nearly 24,000 shifts logged.
Last weekend marked the 100th protest.
"Almost 60 per of total expenditure relates to police officer salary costs, which are considered business‑as‑usual costs," the parliamentary office said.
"These costs would have been incurred regardless of whether a major protest or demonstration occurs."
Operation