Opinion: Anti-vaxxers’ new low at Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance

Our fallen Diggers have not one thing in common with the tradie thugs, anti-vax extremists and conspiracy theorists who cowardly tried to use Melbourne’s Shrine as a shield, writes Kylie Lang.

I have no tolerance for anti-vaxxers at the best of times. Endangering lives by ignoring science and baying at the moon, they have no place in a country that must get back on track and coexist with Covid-19.

But this week these lunatics hit a new low, even for them.

Masquerading as poorly done-by tradies whose industry has been shut down for two weeks – a hardship workers in other fields have had to contend with for months, I might add – they defied Melbourne’s lockdown and took their violent protest to the historic Shrine of Remembrance.

The Shrine, a sacred place that honours the enormous sacrifice of our Diggers who showed courage under the worst of conditions.

Built between 1927 and 1934 to pay tribute to the men and women of Victoria who served in World War I, it also now acts as a memorial to all Australians who have served in any war.

These brave Aussies have not one thing in common with the tradie thugs, anti-vax extremists and conspiracy theorists who cowardly tried to use the Shrine as a shield from the law, saying they hoped police wouldn’t fire on them “out of respect for fallen Anzacs”.

OK, so these grubs might be a few spanners short of a toolbox, but that’s no excuse.

In no world can the minor disruption to their cash flow and a sensible mandate to get vaccinated compare to the ultimate suffering of the men and women of our Defence Force.

Yet, in this despicable show of disrespect, many also made a mockery of the phrase “lest we forget”, chanting it as they stood mask-less and defiant against rules designed to save them from their own stupidity.

Some urinated on the walls of the Shrine.

Shrine of Remembrance CEO Dean Lee described the behaviour as selfish, reprehensible and the most disgusting he could ever imagine at such a sacred place.

Yep, it’s hard to picture much worse.

Construction workers and demonstrators on the steps of the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne this week. Picture: Con Chronis/AFP

The RSL also slammed the actions, saying the Shrine is “of critical importance” in “commemorating service and for the remembrance of those who have died performing their patriotic duty”.

What gets me too is this ugly 400-plus rabble belted out our national anthem, as if they were the only people in this country to which it applied.

Never mind the millions who’ve done the right thing and been immunised, those who are holding on for dear life in lockdown, or indeed the many switched-on tradies complying with the health directives.

These self-proclaimed “freedom” protesters could not be more “un-Australian” if they tried.

Among their demands are a reversal of mandatory Covid vaccines for construction sector workers, the sacking of Victorian chief health officer Brett Sutton, and an end to the two-week industry closure announced by Premier Daniel Andrews on Monday night.

Dumb and dumber, they’re vowing to continue their anarchy.

Hundreds have been arrested, but jail is where they belong.

As Deputy Premier James Merlino put it, this is “a mob acting criminally”.

Along with staging “superspreader” events, this week they’ve also spat on healthcare workers at a vaccination hub, hurled bottles, flares and rocks at police in Melbourne’s CBD, and blocked traffic for hours on the West Gate Bridge to the ire of commuters.

Charge them with assault, with public nuisance, with contravening health directives, with whatever. Just get them off the streets and behind bars where their kind belongs.

To get Australia moving again, we need our borders to reopen, and with that largely dependent on vaccine targets being reached, the only “freedoms” being curtailed are those of the majority who are doing everything right.

The ramifications of what’s happening in Victoria will not be felt only in that state. We will all be made to suffer in one way or another.

Our Diggers fought and died for our country. We cannot allow the anarchy of a deranged minority to undermine their sacrifice, nor let them go unpunished.

Kylie Lang is associate editor of The Courier-Mail

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