Last week, as demonstrators filled the streets of Melbourne to protest the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog to Australia, it emerged that not all participants were there voluntarily. Some were reportedly there for financial gain.

An advertisement on Airtasker offered individuals $100 each to join the protest at Flinders Street Station, opposing both the Israeli president and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The ad criticized the Australian government for welcoming Herzog, stating, “Israel’s genocidal PM is coming to Melbourne, and our government is rolling out the red carpet for him.”

It also noted that similar protests were scheduled to occur in every major city the following evening, with the Melbourne event set to commence at 5:30 PM at Flinders Street Station.

The individual behind the ad mentioned being unable to attend due to illness and sought five people to stand in her place at the protest.

The ‘recruiter’ claimed she was too unwell to attend the protest, and needed five people to make up for her loss. 

‘Can all be separate individuals, doesn’t need to be an established group,’ the ad read. 

Job applicants were told they needed to stay at the protest for ‘at least an hour’.

Protesters flocked to Flinders St Station to protest against Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit Down Under. (It is not suggested anyone pictured was a paid protester)

‘And preferably make a sign to hold up,’ the ad stated. 

Those who took up the job opportunity were advised they would only be paid after they provided three photos at the beginning, middle, and end of their time at the march. 

‘This is a peaceful demonstration and you must act peacefully,’ they were told. 

The ad, which initially carried images of the recruiter, appeared on a Facebook page titled ‘Melbourne Name and Shame’, where angry Melburnians unleashed. 

‘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,’ one person commented. 

But while many expressed rage at the post, some bombarded the page with allegations the ad was digital trickery – an allegation strongly refuted by the page administrators. 

Daily Mail contacted Airtasker for comment, but its media advisers refused to provide a response. 

Under its own policy guidelines, it states: ‘You must not use the Airtasker Platform for any illegal or immoral purpose.’

A protester carries a placard carrying a controversial phrase condemned by the Jewish community as a call for violence (It is not suggested anyone pictured was a paid protester)

The offending Airtasker advertisement appeared on social media 

An image suggested some were interested in taking up the job opportunity 

The company also states it takes a ‘connection fee’ when a customer accepts a Tasker’s offer. 

Images posted online suggest two ads for protesters appeared on the Airtasker app, with four offers made to take on the jobs. 

Doubters flooded the Facebook post with claims the ad was a fake. 

‘Despite the high-profile nature of the protests on February 9, 2026, no major news outlets or independent fact-checkers reported on “paid protesters” via Airtasker,’ one person argued. 

‘Airtasker has strict policies against using the platform for illegal activities or artificially manipulating public events. Listings that violate these terms are typically removed quickly by moderators.’

More than 5,000 people flooded the streets of Melbourne for the protest. 

The crowd gathered outside Flinders St Station in the heart of the city and waved placards with anti-Israel slogans and chanted ‘intifada Palestine’, a controversial phrase condemned by the Jewish community as a call for violence.

As the protesters marched through the CBD, Herzog boarded a plane back to Israel following a visit already marred by wild protests in Sydney.

Protesters gathered outside Flinders St Station in Melbourne 

Victoria Police officers stood back and let the peaceful protest play out 

The 65-year-old undertook the brief three-day tour at the invitation of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to provide comfort to the Jewish community following the Bondi terror attack.

Victoria Police confirmed there was one person charged in Melbourne as the simmering protest managed to avoid boiling over.