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Posted: 2020-06-09 03:56:14

South Australian police say they will not provide an exemption for crowds to attend a second Black Lives Matter protest in Adelaide, despite relaxing coronavirus restrictions for a crowd of more than 2,000 people to attend the AFL on Saturday night.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said 2,000 people would be permitted to attend the Adelaide Oval's public areas for the Showdown between Port Adelaide and the Adelaide Crows.

A further 240 people will be allowed in private rooms around the stadium.

It will be the first AFL match to have crowds this year, after round one went ahead in March in front of empty stands.

The commissioner said Adelaide Oval had a "comprehensive plan" which safely managed the movement of people.

"[The decision] was also taken on the back of the fact that we had a significant number of people in Victoria Square on the weekend for a protest activity and that was conducted in a relatively safe manner," he said.

Mr Stevens defended his decision to permit thousands of protesters to attend a Black Lives Matter rally in Victoria Square on Saturday, saying the protest would have gone ahead with or without permission.

About 6,000 people attended the protest on Saturday.

Adelaide Oval Showdown 36
Stands will be less full for this Saturday's Showdown at Adelaide Oval.(ABC Local Radio: Brett Williamson)

Mr Stevens described the protest as a "one-off", warning protesters there would be no exemptions allowed in the event another rally is organised.

"We acknowledged the unique and exceptional circumstances of the protest we saw on Saturday and the public sentiment we saw around the horrific events in the United States and it was appropriate that we gave consideration to that," he said.

It has been two weeks since the last positive coronavirus case in South Australia.

More detail on next stage coming soon

Premier Steven Marshall said Adelaide would be the first place in the country with a significant crowd at an AFL match.

"I know sporting fans will be very grateful for that," Mr Marshall said.

Port Adelaide Football Club chief executive Keith Thomas said 1,475 would be allocated to his club's members, 475 to Adelaide Crows members and the remaining 50 to Adelaide Oval members.

"We will allocate the 1,475 tickets amongst our membership base via a ballot system," he said.

About 500 people will be allowed at SANFL matches when the season resumes.

Mr Marshall said more detail about stage three of easing coronavirus restrictions would be provided after a second meeting of the State Government's COVID–19 transition committee on Friday.

This would include the starting date for stage three, relaxing state border restrictions and more detail about larger venues, including churches.

Mr Stevens today conceded there were "tensions" within the state's coronavirus transition committee — but insisted that the tensions were constructive.

"There are … healthy, responsible tensions because we are talking about very difficult challenges," he said.

"We need that tension in order to come to sound decisions because we have people who look at things from different perspectives."

A woman and a man raise their fists towards the air, shouting, as part of a crowd waving placards and Aboriginal flags
Protesters march along King William Street in the Black Lives Matter rally in Adelaide.(AAP: Morgan Sette)

Protest organisers hopeful of meeting

The organisers of last Saturday's Black Lives Matter protest had wanted to hold a second event this Saturday in Victoria Square, and regularly after that, although not necessarily weekly.

Janette Milera, the state founder of SOS Blak Australia, said one of the main goals of the protests was to highlight the issue of Aboriginal deaths in custody.

The Premier at today's press conference said he was happy to meet with the rally organisers.

"It looks like the rally's achieved what it wanted to," Ms Milera said.

Ms Milera said the group wanted the 339 recommendations the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths Custody made in 1991 to be implemented.

They would also like a new inquiry into South Australian Aboriginal deaths in custody.

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