Backpackers blamed as Australian beach parties turn violent

Some of the mess on the St Kilda Beach. Photo / Twitter, 7 News Melbourne

Thousands of drunken louts, including many backpackers, wheeled trolleys of booze down to Melbourne's St Kilda foreshore trashing the place, with one man hit by a tram.

Police say about 5000 people descended on the foreshore in an "unplanned event" and the level of public intoxication prompted the closure of two lanes of traffic.

"People were taking trolley loads of alcohol from the local bottle shops and wheeling them on to the beach," Port Phillip Mayor Bernadene Voss told 3AW.

Council officers were now having to pick up the trash, trolleys and pick up broken glass from the sand by hand so people can enjoy the foreshore on a sunny Boxing Day, Voss said.

The council is imposing a 10-day alcohol ban on public spaces from today and did not think one was necessary for Christmas Day because families like to go down to the foreshore for a glass of champagne or beer, Voss said.

"But we didn't really expect the extent of the backpackers and the international visitors, there were a lot of British accents," she said.

"People drink to much and that's a recipe for disaster."

A 27-year-old man was hit by a tram, a drunken 27-year-old woman had to be taken to hospital, others were injured from stepping on broken glass, two were arrested for being drunk in a public place and there was a report of an assault, Inspector Jason Kelly said.

Police from across the metropolitan area had to be brought in to control the mob.

"What really disappoints Victoria Police is the level of intoxication that occurred here," Kelly said.

"We've seen some incidents tonight that are really below the line."

The Port Phillip Council alcohol ban runs until January 4.

In Sydney, Christmas revellers pushed and pepper sprayed by police after a boozy, unauthorised Sydney beach party have questioned the tactics used by officers.

Police were called to Little Bay, south of Maroubra, after reports of the large backpacker gathering and arrived to find approximately 3000 people drinking, singing and dancing.

As the crowd was moved on, two women were arrested. They have since been charged with assaulting police, with officers alleging they were hit with bottles.

Footage of the aftermath of the party shows officers attempting to disperse the gathering.

One video posted on Facebook shows at least four women being pushed to the ground, including two who landed on the road, as officers doused others with pepper spray.

Little Bay: Three people have been arrested after an out of control beach party spilled onto the streets. Two police officers were struck with bottles while trying to control the huge crowd. It's believed they weren't seriously injured. #LittleBay #7News pic.twitter.com/NRDBIdh4Xx

— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) December 25, 2017

Stephen Minshaw, who was injured, said police were hitting people with batons as they tried to leave.

"I don't get why the police needed to use force," he told the Seven Network.

"We're backpackers, we're not going to ... fight back against them." He denied the party had gotten out of hand.

Other social media users responded to the footage by labelling the police response as "unnecessarily violent", "ridiculous" and going "way too far".

A police spokeswoman said she wasn't able to comment on the videos or police tactics.
Two women aged 23 and 25 were charged with assaulting a police officer, while the younger was also charged with causing actual bodily harm.

They are expected before Waverley Local Court on January 31.

St Kilda: Foreshore trashed during wild Christmas party. Cans, bottles and rubbish stretch for hundreds of metres. A team of twenty council workers are working to clean the area. Neighbours furious. @DavidWoiwod #7News pic.twitter.com/mMLIbbkFMa

— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) December 25, 2017

- AAP