Melbourne protests: Large crowds gathered to rally against vaccine mandates and pandemic bill

Thousands of people marched through the city in protest of Victoria’s pandemic bill and vaccine mandates.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Melbourne in protest of the Victorian government’s pandemic bill and vaccine mandates on Saturday with deafening chants of “you serve us” to police.

Demonstrators gathered in the 34C heat at Melbourne’s Parliament House at the intersection of Bourke Street and Spring Street from 12pm on Saturday, causing chaos for drivers in the CBD.

By about 2pm they had surrounded Melbourne West Police Station before taking over the streets for another two hours before finishing for the day.

Hundreds of protesters completely wrapped around the police station as one person went inside to “serve the police some paperwork”.

It was lodged with the bizarre claim that “police … are taking directions from the government which is against the law”.

A protester, who goes by the name of Nick, took the paperwork inside while the crowd chanted outside.

“I said to them ‘You guys are independent office holders according to the Victorian Police Act, you’re a constable of the law … the Australian legal dictionary says the constable cannot be directed by the government about who they prosecute’,” he said.

“I said for the past two years you have been prosecuting for the government.”

The start of the protest outside parliament house in Victoria. Picture: Olivia Jenkins

Police guarded their headquarters on the corner of La Trobe Street and Spencer Street as marchers chanted “you serve us” while gathering around the building.

One man could be seen carrying Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” flag.

After a break in Flagstaff Gardens where crowds were entertained with anti-vaxx songs and speeches, the group took to the streets of Melbourne again and marched towards the Supreme Court and Governor’s House.

Velvet Revolution Australia leader Lyn Bennetts said she was issuing more paperwork to “lawfully remove people from the building” at the Supreme Court.

“It’s our building, we own it and we pay for it,” she told the crowd, who cheered her on.

An aerial photo of the protest taking place in Melbourne on Saturday. Picture: Twitter, @DifficultNerd

“We issued a lawful Sheriff’s decree on the Supreme Court which is great, and we also issued a trespass notice, so they cannot enter back into that building.”

“We are requesting people if they see them going inside that building that they videotape them then we can send a sheriff to arrest them.”

As the sun blazed down the crowd then walked to the Governor’s House about 4pm to do the same.

A line of up to 20 police stood at the front of the building as Ms Bennetts taped both “lawful decrees” on the front gate.

Following more speeches the protest wrapped up just before 4.30pm and members of the crowd dispersed.

Earlier at the start of the protest, which began about midday, protesters could be seen holding signs reading “sack Dan Andrews”, “freedom” and “my body my choice” around the state parliament.

People gathered in Melbourne. NCA NewsWire/Ian Currie

Another sign read “No vax mandate! No vax passport! Kill the bill!”

Multiple signs bore the symbol of the cross with one saying: “In the name of God, for our and your freedoms” while another said “Jesus wins”.

Police had been attempting to control traffic after the group spilt onto the road with officers lining the steps of parliament as the crowd continued to grow.

Young children were seen among the crowd which began walking down Bourke Street about 12.30pm.

Ms Bennetts told the crowd to try and avoid arrest by putting hands in their pockets if approached by police.

“If they are tough, everyone needs to videotape it, that is grievous bodily harm which is seven years in jail,” she said.

Members of the crowd held signs saying “free hugs” urging protesters to come and hug them during the march.

Thousands of demonstrators have again taken to the streets in Melbourne. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Ian Currie

As the crowd moved towards the High Court protesters chanted “free Australia” and “save our nation”.

Protesters were seen halting oncoming cars at the corner of Bourke and Exhibition Streets.

The group of protesters appeared to have swelled to several thousand marchers by 1pm.

On-foot police officers were forced to divert oncoming traffic away as the group walked to Bourke Street Mall.

Some protesters pleaded with onlookers to join them.

“Wake up. Can’t you see what’s going on?” one man yelled.

Another man, dressed as Jesus Christ, climbed atop a bin and held a bible.

While some protesters yelled through megaphones, others blew bubbles and blared music through portable speakers as they walked down Lonsdale Street.

Members of the crowd held signs saying “free hugs” urging protesters to come and hug them during the march.

Ant-government and anti-vaccination protesters march through Melbourne’s CBD. Picture : NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

Another man donned his surgical scrubs as he marched.

James Newburrie was at his Lonsdale St home playing music with headphones when he heard the protest before taking a photo which shows the size of the crowds.

“I was practicing guitar and I had headphones on and I could hear the chants,” Mr Newburrie told NCA Newswire.

“I’m very high up but I could hear it through the music.”

Mr Newburrie said the protest looked “entirely peaceful” and in very good order, taking about 12 minutes for the crowd to disperse on the street.

It comes as Victoria records 1504 new Covid-19 cases and seven deaths as the government pushes for 750,000 eligible people to get their booster dose.

Originally published as Melbourne protests: Large crowds gathered to rally against vaccine mandates and pandemic bill