By Callum Godde in Melbourne

Pro-Palestine protesters have gatecrashed a Labor state conference in Melbourne, targeting the prime minister over Australia’s response to the Israel-Hamas war.

Victorian Labor Party MPs, members and unionists gathered at the Moonee Valley Racecourse on Saturday for the two-day event.

Dozens of pro-Palestine protesters breached security and entered the course after 10am, forcing staff to lock the doors to the conference room.

The group chanted “Labor Party you can’t hide, you’re supporting genocide” after making their way upstairs.

They then began banging on the conference room doors and chanting during the in memoriam section, following the deaths of former Labor leader Simon Crean, Dunkley MP Peta Murphy and Senator Linda White.

“I just want to let everyone know that the protesters which were outside have been moved on,” a Labor official told the conference.

“And just want to reassure anyone who has a child in childcare that they are not near that area and… it is secure and safe.”

A Victoria Police spokeswoman told AAP the protesters left without incident and no arrests were made.

The security breach delayed speeches from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Jacinta Allan.

Earlier, a man trying to enter the conference was swarmed by activists outside before he was led away by police.

Senator Lidia Thorpe was among those to give speeches outside as the group chanted “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and suggested several Labor leaders had “blood on their hands”.

Domestic tensions remain high over Israel’s invasion and bombing of Gaza following the October 7 terror attack by Hamas.

Several motions related to the conflict are scheduled for debate on Saturday afternoon, including one calling for an “end to military co-operation with Israel”.

At last year’s meeting, Victorian Labor members passed a motion for the Albanese government to recognise Palestinian statehood within this term of parliament.

After the federal budget was handed down on Tuesday, the prime minister used his speech to tout the government’s $32 billion housing investment.

“We are doing all this in spite of the opposition we’ve faced from the Liberals and the Greens,” Mr Albanese told the crowd.

“The Liberals have a pathological problem with affordable housing, always have.

“And while the Greens … talk a lot about housing, the only thing they want to build is their profile.”