The organisers of a Black Lives Matter protest planned for Rockhampton this weekend will push ahead with the event despite criticism that the demonstrations are "selfish" and should be illegal.
Participant James Mundy said it was important the event went ahead as part of the effort to raise awareness about black deaths in custody in Australia.
"The history and the current issues that are happening in our country should be concerning to all Australians," he said.
"Enough is enough, and people are wanting to stand up and make some noise and actually have these issues dealt with."
Yesterday Scott Morrison demanded an end to further Black Lives Matter protests and said demonstrators should be charged.
'Good luck to them'
Central Queensland-based LNP Senator Matt Canavan described the events as "incredibly selfish" and said they should be illegal.
"In normal times, good luck to them — you are allowed to protest," he said.
"Other people have sacrificed and given up a lot for the common good, but apparently this group of people think the laws don't apply to them."
Senator Canavan said the health advice was clear and the protesters' behaviour would put lives at risk.
He said there were a lot of "misperceptions" about Indigenous deaths in custody rates in Australia.
"Over the last 30 years there have been enormous changes to how police forces and how our judicial and jail system works for Indigenous Australians," he said.
"Obviously the high rates of incarceration of Indigenous Australians are a symptom of a broader issue … and we need to try and target those."
Indigenous Australians 'really hurting'
Aboriginal and South Sea Islander woman Sue Domic worked for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service during 1991's Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and said little has changed since.
"Our people are sick of fighting, sick of trying to get just basic respect," she said.
"They're really hurting and we've just got so many things going on in our community, our grief and loss.
"We just want to be able to express ourselves."
New case linked to BLM rally
A man who attended a Black Lives Matter rally in Melbourne last week has since tested positive for COVID-19.
Paul Griffin, the Mater Health Service director of infectious diseases, said the case highlighted the risk of the events.
"We're still yet to see if there are other cases that will arise," he said.
"If there was an alternate way of getting the message across that needs to be communicated, I think that would be desirable," he said.
Dr Griffin said if the Rockhampton event went ahead, people should do what they could to reduce the risk.
"Hand hygiene and masks, and certainly not attending if you're unwell is still really critical."
A Queensland Police Service spokesman said officers would attend the rally, but would not be issuing face masks to the public.
He echoed Dr Griffin's advice about hygiene, advised attendees to practice social distancing, and said others should consider supporting the protest in ways that did not involve them gathering in groups of more than 20.
