ABC security in fight with protester

An ABC security guard has brawled with a protester live-on air during an anti-war rally in Melbourne.

Protesters gathered on Thursday morning to rally against the Land Forces Defence Expo being held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

It is the second day of demonstrations and comes after wild scenes on Wednesday, which saw

protesters clashing with police, throwing horse manure and rocks, while officers made arrests and swung batons in efforts to subdue tensions.

Tensions were high on Thursday with ABC reporter Stephanie Ferrier heading the scene with multiple security guards surrounding her.

As she delivered a live-cross one of the security guards was seen scuffling with a protester.

In the clip the protester appears to walk in front of the camera when a security guard pushes them away.

The protest then appears to swing at the security guard.

The other security guard then steps in and appears to shove the protesters.

Another protester can be seen breaking up the fight and urging the pair to “calm down”.

“At the moment, we’re obviously trying to report on this and we’re getting a little bit of difficulty here,” Ms Ferrier says.

As she attempts to move away from the crowd, more people follow her.

The tense scenes come after Channel 7 Sunrise reporter Teegan Dolling was swarmed by protesters on Wednesday.

One female protester put her hand over the camera lens, Dolling pushed her arm away and what appeared to be private security guarding the reporter stepped in, but the protester managed to put hands on the camera at least one more time.

“That’s not on if people are actually mishandling our reporter,” host Natalia Barr said from the studio.

In the hours after the protest, she penned a piece for 7news.com.au where she described the protest as “vile and violent”.

“First there was the stench of OC spray in the air, then came the overwhelming smell of vomit, as protesters threw water balloons filled with sick at police, delegates and media,” Ms Dolling wrote.

“Ducking for cover as padlocks, apples, chairs and horse manure were hurled towards anyone the activists assume held different views.”

She said Melbourne had once been the most liveable country in the world and has seen many protests, but “none this vile and violent”.

“The aggression came in waves, as police surged towards the 2000-strong group to remove them from the road, escort members of the public to safety, or to extinguish flames,” she wrote.

Ms Dolling said protesters didn’t listen to directions to move and reacted with attacks on police and cruelty towards horses.

It was the city’s largest protest in 24 years and resulted in 42 people being arrested.

Disrupt Land Forces say they will continue to protest during the remainder of the conference this week.