Police will hold an internal investigation into claims a 50-year-old woman was assaulted while protesting against a planned McDonald's restaurant in the Dandenong Ranges.
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Police initially disputed Janine Watson's claim that security staff forcibly removed her from the McDonald's construction site at Tecoma last week, leaving her with broken fingers. Police spokeswoman Natalie Webster said Ms Watson, who had camped on the roof of the fast food site with three other protesters, had fallen, suffering an abrasion to her finger.
The explanation bewildered the protest group "No McDonald's in the Dandenong Ranges", which has complained to Victoria Police's professional standard's command.
Police spokeswoman Anita Brens confirmed on Monday that force had received the complaint.
Protest group spokesman Garry Muratore said the police's media department had told him last week that the investigation into how Ms Watson was injured was ongoing.
"To claim the women fell whilst an investigation is ongoing seems a strange way to handle what could be seen as a possibly inflammatory situation for the protest," Mr Muratore said.
Ms Watson, a stalwart of the community campaign against the development, said she was offering her 50th birthday cake to security members when they suddenly pulled her from the roof.
"It was cold and dark so I offered them some cake," she said.
"I leant over the barricade and suddenly lots of hands grabbed me and pulled me down to the floor.
"They held me down on all parts of my body ... it was a scary moment."
Ms Watson said several fingers were fractured during the alleged attack and she was left with substantial bruising from her waist down.
"I don't know why they chose that cowardly behaviour to trick me," she said.
Hours before Ms Watson was injured, union workers walked off the construction site. The CFMEU's assistant secretary Shaun Reardon confirmed that the workers would stand by residents until their concerns were addressed.
McDonald's Australia spokeswoman Skye Oxenham-Lupul said the delay was temporary, contrary to media reports claiming it was a victory for the local anti-McDonald's campaign and the end of plans for a McDonald's in the town.
"We're still moving forward behind the scenes," Ms Oxenham-Lupul told Fairfax Media on Friday.
The protest follows approval from the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal for McDonald's to open a 24-hour restaurant in the small town, despite fierce opposition from the local council and community.
