Paid Protesters Exposed at Melbourne Anti-Israel Rally via Airtasker Ad
While thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets of Melbourne last week to protest Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit to Australia, a shocking revelation has emerged: some participants were reportedly being paid to attend. The Daily Mail has uncovered an advertisement on the Airtasker platform that pledged to pay individuals $100 each to join the protest at Flinders Street Station, targeting Herzog and Israel's ongoing war in Gaza.
The Controversial Advertisement
The advertisement, which appeared on a Facebook page titled 'Melbourne Name and Shame', explicitly stated: 'Israel's genocidal PM is coming to Melbourne and our government is rolling out the red carpet for him.' It called for protesters to gather at 5:30 PM, noting that demonstrations were planned in every capital city. The recruiter claimed to be too unwell to attend and sought five separate individuals to compensate for her absence, emphasizing that no established group was required.
Job applicants were instructed to remain at the protest for at least one hour and preferably create a sign to hold up. Payment was contingent on providing three photographs—captured at the beginning, middle, and end of their participation—to verify attendance. The ad stressed that the demonstration must be peaceful, aligning with Airtasker's policy guidelines, which prohibit using the platform for illegal or immoral purposes.
Public Outrage and Allegations of Fakery
The advertisement sparked intense backlash on social media, with many commenters expressing fury over the implication of 'paid protesters'. One individual remarked, 'Just proves the whole "paid protesters" thing. Hence why they don't care about the Iranian protester deaths coz there's no money in that.' However, others flooded the page with accusations that the ad was a digital hoax, a claim strongly refuted by page administrators.
Despite the controversy, no major news outlets or independent fact-checkers have confirmed reports of paid protesters via Airtasker during the high-profile protests on February 9, 2026. Airtasker, which charges a connection fee when a customer accepts a tasker's offer, has strict policies against artificially manipulating public events, and listings that violate these terms are typically removed quickly by moderators. The company's media advisers declined to comment when contacted by the Daily Mail.
Scale of the Protests and Herzog's Visit
More than 5,000 people participated in the Melbourne protest, gathering outside Flinders Street Station in the city center. Demonstrators waved placards with anti-Israel slogans and chanted 'intifada Palestine', a phrase condemned by the Jewish community as a call for violence. Victoria Police officers monitored the event, allowing the peaceful protest to proceed and confirming only one arrest.
Meanwhile, President Herzog, 65, concluded his brief three-day tour of Australia, invited by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to comfort the Jewish community following the Bondi terror attack. His visit was already marred by wild protests in Sydney, and as the Melbourne march unfolded, he boarded a plane back to Israel. Images posted online suggested two similar ads for protesters appeared on the Airtasker app, with four offers made to take on the jobs, though doubts about their authenticity persist among skeptics.
