Anti-vaccine protesters on Melbourne streets for third day
More than 200 protesters have been arrested after another violent stand-off in which police used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the mob from the Shrine of Remembrance.
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Rioters have desecrated the Shrine of Remembrance during another shameful day of protests that resulted in police being pelted with golf balls, tap handles and batteries.
Up to 400 protesters brought Melbourne’s CBD to a standstill for a third consecutive day as they rallied against lockdowns, mandatory vaccination and the shutdown of the construction industry.
The crowd, mostly men, defied desperate pleas from authorities to stay at home and marched through major city streets before descending upon the state’s most sacred landmark.
The mob chanted “Lest we forget” and “Sacred ground” while some drank beer and smoked cigarettes, in scenes that have horrified the RSL and veterans groups.
The heavily armed riot squad eventually unleashed on protesters about 4.45pm, firing non-lethal projectiles and forcing them to scamper off the steps and into oncoming traffic on St Kilda Rd.
Police confirmed that 215 people were arrested, most of whom were hit with $5452 fines for breaching Covid-19 restrictions.
Others were charged for letting off flares and throwing objects including golf balls, tap handles and batteries at police.
Two officers suffered head injuries from projectiles and another member is in hospital with chest pain.
On Wednesday night, Deputy Commissioner Ross Guenther described the protest as “disappointing”.
He said many construction workers, who protested earlier this week in the wake of mandatory vaccination rules and the industry’s two-week shutdown, had listened to orders to stay at home.
“There weren’t as many tradies, from what we could see, and we take that as a real positive,” he said.
“The group seem much more mixed in their motivation, which we are yet to establish. There are other small breakaway groups that see benefit in hijacking these things. We’ve seen that before.
“In terms of giving them a brand, it is difficult to say until we can look at our intelligence.”
Despite police vowing early on Wednesday that there would be no “cat-and-mouse games”, the protest again stretched over seven hours.
But Mr Guenther said he considered the day to be “very successful” and “effective” in protecting public safety.
“In terms of our deployment, it was dynamic, it was agile and it was aimed very much at early disruption, group fragmentation, and just keeping that large group from gathering all day,” he said.
“We used various deployments to limit the damage to city buildings and effectively reduced the likelihood of general threats to public safety.”
Mr Guenther said while it was “unpleasant” that the protest culminated at the Shrine of Remembrance, it was a “very effective” location to end the unrest.
Beer cans and rubbish littered the front steps of the Shrine, having been used as projectiles against police when officers cleared the crowd.
In the chaos as police cleared the area, the rabble spilled out on to nearby Park St in South Melbourne, where a tram was vandalised and a car crashed into another tram.
Shrine of Remembrance chief executive Dean Lee said he was “speechless” and “appalled” by the protesters’ behaviour.
“I cannot comprehend the selfishness of people who have come to this sacred place and do this,” he said.
“It’s outrageous, reprehensible and it’s the most disgusting behaviour I could ever imagine here at the Shrine.”
Proudly wearing his service medals, veteran Wade Harrison told protesters at the war memorial to respect the monument.
“I’m here by myself. The only thing I’m asking, can you please just respect the soldiers and the fallen,” he asked the crowd.
Deputy Premier James Merlino slammed the antics of rioters as “anathema” to Victoria. “Make no mistake, this is thuggery. This is criminal behaviour,” he said.
“I’m not going to call it a protest because it is not a protest. This is a mob acting criminally.”
Protester Brian, a plumber from Glen Waverley, said he attended in support of construction workers unable to work for two weeks.
“I can’t believe we are shut down for two weeks. It is just not right,” he said.
“I came out here to stand up to this government. We have had enough.”
Throughout the day the crowd chanted “every day” – a promise to continue protesting throughout the two-week shutdown.
A shirtless man scaled a tram stop on Swanston St outside the Arts Centre, yelling profanities while smoking a cigarette.
Another man used spray paint to vandalise a Metro Tunnel sign.
The crowd sung the national anthem and other boisterous chants.
Premier Daniel Andrews condemned the “ugly scenes”, describing them as “appalling” and “unlawful”.
“Whether you want to call it a riot, affray, ugly scenes, you can scarcely find a word to adequately describe what we saw,” he said.
Speaking from the US, the Prime Minister said that while the construction industry was facing a difficult situation, that was no excuse for the “highly distressing” protest actions in Melbourne.
“None of us are above the law,” Scott Morrison said.
Acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce hit out at the protesters and the state government over the violent scenes.
“You can’t just have the middle of town taken over by a marauding group of people,” he said.
The Nationals leader also called on Mr Andrews to take back control of his state”.
“It’s a very, very bad look. The government in Victoria has to accept responsibility for what’s happening,” he said.
HOW CHAOS AT SHRINE UNFOLDED
The heavily armed riot squad unleashed on protesters, swarming the group and forcing it off the steps of the Shrine after an hours-long stand-off.
Multiple non-lethal shots were fired into the crowd forcing the protesters to flee as a strong contingent of police pressed forward.
The unruly group spilled out on to nearby Park St and riot police scattered through neighbouring streets with their guns drawn.
Two trams were caught up in the chaos — one graffitied by the anti-social louts.
A car and another tram were involved in a collision as protesters dramatically spilled out into oncoming traffic.
Frightening. The crowd runs away from the Shrine after public order police fired non-lethal shots into the crowd. Turn on the audio for this. The fracas has spilled out onto Park Street. @theheraldsunpic.twitter.com/3RRng7BEeJ
— Brianna Travers (@briannatravers) September 22, 2021
The stand-off between armed riot police and protesters unfolded when the group of construction workers and protesters marched to the Shrine of Remembrance at 1.30pm, chanting “lest we forget”.
Hours after the group marched to Melbourne’s most sacred landmark, tensions escalated and police moved in on the crowd.
The crowd yelled abuse at the officers and threw bottles while setting off a flare.
Jeers from the angry mob could be heard from up to 600m away as arrests were made.
Protesters began chanting “sacred ground” in an apparent bid to tell police they could not advance on them, arrest them or use violence to arrest them at the Shrine.
A woman sitting on the grass who wouldn’t comply with police orders to move on was forcibly dragged out by officers shrieking and crying.
Other rowdy members of the group shouted at police, telling them to “stand with them”.
Earlier, police had begun to negotiate with the crowd, telling them if they wanted to leave peacefully, they could do so via St Kilda Rd.
But when people tried to run from the demonstration, they were swiftly arrested.
Officers cheered after multiple police personnel tackled one demonstrator to the ground as he tried to escape.
Shrine of Remembrance chief executive Dean Lee exclusively spoke to the Herald Sun after the chaotic scenes erupted.
Mr Lee said he was “speechless” and “appalled” by the events on Wednesday.
“I cannot comprehend the selfishness of people who have come to this sacred place and do this to Victoria’s Shrine of Remembrance.
“It’s outrageous, reprehensible and it’s the most disgusting behaviour I could ever imagine here at the Shrine of Remembrance.”
Mr Lee was seen climbing the now empty steps of the Shrine alone, surveying the mess left behind by the crowd.
Beer cans and rubbish littered the front steps, having been used as projectiles against police in the final minutes of chaos when officers cleared the crowd.
Senior officers were seen warning the group that tear gas could be deployed.
Riot squad police inched closer to the demonstration, with a second line of officers behind them as a crowd of onlookers said they were dismayed at what they were witnessing.
“This is absolute madness, ignorance and incredibly frustrating,” said 21-year-old Molly who was observing the protest with her two friends.
One man was heard speculating whether the police would soon open fire.
“They are not going to shoot at people at the Shrine of Remembrance, that would be the end of Vic Pol,” he said.
Police surrounded the Shrine about 2.20pm, while the group held its position on the steps.
The crowd sang the Australian national anthem, as well as other raucous chants.
Protesters were chanting “f--- the jab” and singing the Australian national anthem.
A man on a loudspeaker called on police to stand down.
“Protesting is a human right ... we must be allowed to walk,” he told the officers who surrounded the group.
“You still have a chance to do what you signed up to do, and have children who look up to you.
“We are here to be peaceful we don’t have weapons ... we need you, like you need us.”
LIBS ARGUE OVER POLICE RESPONSE
Liberal MP Bernie Finn has been criticised by his colleagues for describing Victoria Police as “modern incarnation of the Despot’s militia” in the wake of Wednesday’s protests.
The Western Metropolitan Region member took to Facebook hours after the shocking scenes at the Shrine of Remembrance, writing “I have always been a staunch supporter of the men and women of Victoria Police”.
“I can’t extend that support to the modern incarnation of the Despot’s militia,” he said.
“It horrifies me!”
But fellow Liberal MP and former police officer Brad Battin rebuked him, commenting that his views were not that of the wider party, with other MPs soon joining in.
“I am sorry Bernie Finn MP, this is NOT the view of the Liberal Party,” the Casey MP and Shadow Police Minister wrote.
“The police are delivering on bad laws by a terrible Government.
“The front line can’t choose which laws to follow.
“There are ways to fix this, we need to get rid of Daniel Andrews.
“As a former police officer I understand what it is like to face protestors - it is not great.”
Finn replied to him, writing “thanks for telling me the view of the Liberal Party”.
“I’m always pleased to hear it.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Battin criticised protestors for their behaviour at the Shrine.
““What we are seeing today is a Melbourne no one supports,” he said.
“Our police officers are being put in harm’s way because of the appalling conduct of a group of people who should go home.”
Ryan Smith, the Liberal member for Warrandyte, joined in on the comment thread and said he stands “with the rank and file”.
“I have also been a staunch supporter, and continue to be,” Smith said.
“I have friends who are police who I admire and respect.
“I stand with the rank and file - my fight is with Daniel Andrews and his government.”
Kew’s Liberal MP Tim Smith jumped into the social media debate, and said he agreed with Battin.
“Police Officers adhere to the line of command,” he wrote.
“If anyone including Bernie Finn MP has an issue with Victoria police, criticism should be directed at its leadership and its authoritarian Labor political masters who are directing them.
“The chopper debacle this evening being a very good example.”
The ‘chopper debacle’ was a reference to police’s request for a no-fly zone over the CBD during the protests.
They later changed their mind and will allow news helicopters to fly, providing the broadcast of aerial footage is delayed by one hour, to prevent protestors from watching it to track police movements.
RSL REACTS TO PROTEST
The RSL’s Victorian branch released a statement on Wednesday afternoon, saying protests at the Shrine of Remembrance were “disrespecting the sanctity” of the space.
“It is RSL Victoria’s position that Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance is a sacred place, of critical importance to the current and ex-service members of our community, for commemorating service and for the remembrance of those who have died performing their patriotic duty,” the statement said.
“Under no circumstances, ever, should the Shrine be a place of protest.
“If any individuals or groups choose to express their political views, positions or ideological theories in the grounds of the Shrine at any time, they are completely disrespecting the sanctity of this time honoured space, those men and women of the Australian Defence Force who have lost their lives, and all Victorian veterans.”
The Victorian Opposition on Wednesday came out against the protesters after their demonstration at the Shrine.
“We call for calm,” Shadow Attorney-General Tim Smith said.
“We call for respect for our fellow Australians. We demand the Shrine is respected.”
Opposition police spokesman Brad Battin said they were seeing a Melbourne “no one supports”.
“Our police officers are being put in harm’s way because of the appalling conduct of a group of people who should go home,” he said.
#Breaking - Public order response police have moved in around the crowd at the Shrine of Remembrance. @theheraldsunpic.twitter.com/fyRxMlnadl
— Brianna Travers (@briannatravers) September 22, 2021
MELBOURNE NO-FLY ZONE OVERTURNED
Police have backflipped on a proposed controversial aerial ban above the CBD.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority had granted a request by Victoria Police to ground all aircraft in a three nautical mile radius of the CBD from Wednesday until Sunday in an extraordinary response to the construction industry chaos.
The force will now grant media aircraft special permissions to fly above the CBD to capture footage of protesters but under strict conditions.
Read the full story here
Melbourne protest: Man sprays “every day†onto the signage of the Metro Tunnel project. @theheraldsun#Melbourneprotestpic.twitter.com/2YyRKIh0sk
— Brianna Travers (@briannatravers) September 22, 2021
WILD SCENES ERUPT IN CBD
More than a thousand people snaked through Melbourne’s CBD for more than three hours, despite police warning there would be no game of “cat and mouse” on Wednesday.
Riot police deployed pepper spray to disperse the crowd of protesters and construction workers as they marched down Elizabeth St.
A large police presence formed at the intersection of Elizabeth and Bourke streets as officers tried to get ahead of the advancing mob in a bid to contain them.
Paramedics say a man suffered a leg wound amid the chaos.
After being hit with pepper spray, the crowd scattered across the city before protesters regrouped on Victoria St near Queen Victoria Market.
The crowd appeared to have little regard for oncoming traffic as they shut down key city roads.
The unruly mob has been chanting “every day” — a promise to continue protesting throughout the two-week construction sector shutdown.
Another popular chant has been “f--- Dan Andrews”.
Some demonstrators could be seen becoming more aggressive, with one man threatening to kill a reporter at the scene.
Others moved towards the police line and screamed “f---ing pigs”, while some began chanting “sack Dan Andrews”.
Some men vandalised road signs and carried them on the march, while others lit flares.
A man using a microphone urged the group to stay together to have strength in numbers.
Another man used spray paint to vandalise a Metro Tunnel sign with the words “every day”.
A shirtless man scaled a tram station on Swanston St outside the Arts Centre, screaming profanities while smoking a cigarette.
ACTING PM SLAMS MOB
Acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce hit out at the protesters and the state government over the violent scenes that were scaring Victorians.
Mr Joyce said he understood that people had concerns and frustrations about Melbourne’s ongoing lockdown, but that violent was not the solution.
“You can’t just have the middle of town taken over by a marauding group of people,” he said.
The Nationals leader also called on Daniel Andrews to “take control back of his state”.
“This is happening on his watch, and it’s no good. It’s a very, very, very bad look,” Mr Joyce said.
“The government in Victoria has to accept responsibility for what’s happening on the streets in Victoria.”
Situation has escalated very quickly. Police have fired pepper spray pellets at protestors. Absolute chaos. pic.twitter.com/pOiIwTGER4
— Mitch Ryan (@Mitchryan0) September 22, 2021
ARRESTS AT CFMEU HEADQUARTERS
Police made their first arrests on Wednesday morning as riot police stood guard at the entrance to CFMEU headquarters on Elizabeth St, which has been the site of protesting chaos for two days.
They could be seen interrogating anyone passing by the building.
Three people were arrested shortly before 10am
A man wearing a cap and a hi-vis orange vest was handcuffed about 9.45am.
Another man and a woman were also arrested in the vicinity of the CFMEU headquarters.
One maskless man was injured during a scuffle with police about 10.15am, sustaining a gash to his forehead during his arrest.
He was handcuffed one block from the CFMEU headquarters.
By 11.30am, the group of about 70 protesters marched down Elizabeth St and turned right to La Trobe St to avoid police detection at the CFMEU building.
Cars honked their horns at chanting protesters passing by.
One man proudly waved a red Australian ensign flag as he walked at the front of the pack.
The demonstration has shut down key CBD public transport and traffic routes.
Deputy Commissioner Rick Nugent confirmed there had been “a couple” of arrests in the morning when the group size was small.
He said police were checking anyone in the vicinity of the CFMEU headquarters for their essential worker permit.
“Hopefully it (a protest) doesn’t occur today but I suspect it may,” Mr Nugent said on 3AW radio.
“No doubt this is one of the biggest police challenges we’ve had in a long, long time.
“It is challenging but we prioritise the resources we’ve got and do what we can. It (protest) is not what the city needs. It’s such a beautiful city.”
Stacy Curran, said she was attending the rally to support friends and family in the union.
“We are not going to put up with any of this bulls---” she said.
“It is absolutely disgusting what they are doing.
“I’m optimistic that something will happen if we keep protesting, if we keep it up every day, someone is going to listen.”
NO ‘CAT AND MOUSE GAMES’: TOP COP
Chief Commissioner Shane Patton slammed the “cowards” who unleashed “reprehensible” chaos upon Melbourne on Tuesday, as they vowed to again take over city streets in protest at mandatory Covid vaccinations for construction workers.
“I’m not going to disclose what our tactics will be … but they will be different,” he said.
Mr Patton on Wednesday said police resources would be expanded beyond the 500 officers who were sent to quell the previous day’s violence.
“I’m not going to talk about the tactics we’ll deploy today but I’d be very surprised if you see any cat and mouse games today,” he said.
But demonstrators doubled down, saying: “We ain’t backing down”.
Two lone security guards were guarding the entrance to the CFMEU’s headquarters, which remains boarded up after the office doors were destroyed during Monday’s protest.
Construction workers on encrypted messaging app Telegram pleaded with some of the more aggressive demonstrators — who on Tuesday threw bottles and urinated on journalists, hurled rocks and lit flares — to engage in a peaceful march on Wednesday.
“All on again tomorrow (Wednesday). No violence, no childish behaviour,” one construction worker said.
The worker implored marchers not to consume alcohol or illicit drugs.
The warning comes after the Herald Sun obtained footage of two men wearing high-vis clothing snorting a substance on the side of the road on Tuesday.
“No alcohol to be consumed. If I see alcohol being consumed I’ll personally smash all the bottles on the ground,” they said.
“We will stand firm. We will get our point across. We will make sure our voices are heard.”
But others were already gearing up for another day of mass disruption across town.
“Gonna (sic) be a good one today,” another protester wrote.
“Let’s do this, it will be a big one.”
Protesters made plans to congregate outside CFMEU headquarters on Elizabeth Street between 9am and 10am on Wednesday, with agitators from right-wing anti-lockdown and anti-vaxxer group Melbourne Freedom Rally encouraging people to congregate alongside construction workers.
Membership to encrypted right-wing groups continued to grow on Wednesday as protesters were seen sharing plans to travel into the city.
Premier Daniel Andrews on Wednesday labelled protest attendees were a “diverse crowd” and said they did not represent the construction industry.
“It is not representative of them. The hundreds and thousands of people who are in every sense of that word builders — they’re not wreckers, they’re not vandals, they’re builders, they build our state,” he said.
“I got nothing but respect for them and I don’t think they were in any way represented accurately in any way by the appalling conduct of some yesterday.”
As the Premier Daniel Andrews spoke to media, agitators in private social media groups attempted to rev up their fellow protesters.
They urged everyone demonstrating to “get in early” to avoid police roadblocks and other restrictions that could diminish their numbers.
They also seized on the fact that Deputy Premier James Merlino would be speaking later on Wednesday in an announcement expected to include mandatory vaccination for teachers.
“The teachers will soon be on the streets with us,” one message said.
But there was debate about whether to ensure the protest was peaceful or not.
Some anti-vaccination hardliners also believed police would eventually join their side if the demonstrations did not become violent.
But others were far more extreme.
“So are the doors to Parliament House being broken down and Dan being dragged out?” one message said.
LOCKDOWN END IN JEOPARDY
The Premier said the ongoing rallies could even threaten the end of Melbourne’s sixth lockdown.
“We are so close, we are so close to meeting those vaccination targets at 70 per cent double dose, 80 per cent double dose, ending this lockdown, getting past this thing,” Mr Andrews said.
“Yes, it will be a difficult time in our hospital system. We will see patients but we are going to normalise this and we are going to be open and the days of lockdowns will be behind us.
“This sort of behaviour puts everything at risk.”
Mr Andrews said there were more Covid-19 cases in the construction industry than there were in aged care, with 350 tradies currently positive with the virus.
He defended the two-week construction shutdown in locked-down regions, blaming lack of compliance in the sector.
“I can’t just see cases ticking up and up and up, people not wearing their masks, no compliance — not in every site, but many, many sites,” Mr Andrews said.
“You can’t ignore that. So you have to act and that’s why it’s not a choice to get vaccinated … 350-odd cases, 150-odd sites, large and small, are taking the virus to regional Victoria, shutting whole regional communities down.”
He also compared the construction sector to frontline healthcare workers, who had similar restrictions and mandates slapped on them.
“Nurses are not out in the streets and national cabinet made a decision last Friday that everybody in the health system is going to be vaccinated,” he said.
“They have never had a tearoom in two years. Nurses and health staff are out, rain, hail or shine, sitting outside having their breaks. Victoria Police members, they don’t get a tearoom, ambos don’t get a tearoom.
“Construction stayed open and I reckon there would be a lot of people sitting at home who haven’t been able to go to work for sad, but for the best of reasons, and they just be scratching their heads – how could you be upset to be open and have to abide by rules?
“Well, now that industry is shut. I’m upset about that. I’m gutted to have to make that decision. I want to get it open again.
“The way to do it is for people to follow the rules and get vaccinated. And pleasingly, apart from a pretty small minority … I think a lot of people are doing that.”
HOW TUESDAY’S CHAOS UNFOLDED
Up to 2000 vicious rioters led police on a seven-hour game of cat and mouse on Tuesday as they wound their way along city streets, while lighting flares, hurling rocks, launching themselves on cars and invading the West Gate Bridge.
Innocent people, including children, were trapped terrified in cars as the mob took over the gateway, chanting “this is our bridge” and even spitting on a woman driving a Bentley.
Premier Daniel Andrews, who issued a statement but did not appear publicly on Tuesday, slammed the violence, saying there was “no excuse for the terrible behaviour we have seen in our city over the last two days”.
“Acts of violence and disruption won’t result in one less case of Covid – in fact it only helps the virus to spread,” he said. “Thank you to the brave men and women of Victoria Police for their work today – and every day – to keep our community safe.”
Police have vowed to track down the protesters – which included construction workers, tradies, unionists and radical activists, some of whom were drunk – as they faced off with the riot squad who were armed with pepper ball guns and stinger grenades.
Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said: “You cannot come in and break the law. We will hold you to account.”
About 500 police, including general duties officers, the public order response team, the critical incident response team and the air wing, responded to the lawless throng.
In Melbourne’s third volatile protest in just four days, specialist officers were forced to fire pepper ball rounds, foam baton rounds, smoke rounds and stinger grenades. Three officers and a journalist were injured with 62 arrests.
“This is utter criminal conduct they’ve been involved in,” Mr Patton said.
“This was a very large and very, very angry group. Crowds like this, they’re for cowards.
“Cowards who seek to hide their identity … to do other things that if they were by themselves they wouldn’t have the courage to do.”
The group, many clad in workwear, on Tuesday morning faced off with police at the offices of the CFMEU on Elizabeth St, where a day earlier, they rounded on the union and its leader John Setka.
The second protest came amid a two-week ban on construction work, announced by the state government just hours after Monday’s demonstration.
TRADES HALL SLAMS ‘DRESS-UP’ MOB
Unions are continuing to distance themselves from the protests against the mandatory vaccination of the construction sector and shutdown of the industry.
The Victoria Trades Hall Council claimed the protests over the last few days were not union-affiliated and instead made up of people who are pretending to be tradespeople.
“I’ve led rallies in the past, big ones, like 200,000 people in the streets, our rallies are diverse, they are passionate … they are fundamentally peaceful,” secretary Luke Hilakari told 3AW.
“This is not a union rally, this is a mob who playing dress-up, and are attempting to intimidate our whole city, and it’s just not on.”
The VTHC head threw his support behind mandatory vaccination of the sector, saying it was the only way things can return to normality.
“Vaccinations keep us safe … the best thing you can possibly do is get a jab,” he said.
“(Our union is) all about keeping people safe.”
Mr Hilakari urged people to not show up to Wednesday’s demonstrations.
“These protests are dangerous — they should not show up,” he said.
“Make your point in a peaceful way … you don’t have to do it in the middle of the city in a pandemic.”
— Additional reporting: Caleb Bond, Mitch Clarke, Kieran Rooney, Sarah Perillo
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