Construction workers march on parliament, met by riot police
Innocent people, including children, were trapped terrified in cars as thousands of vicious rioters took over Melbourne’s streets, with cops fearing no end is sight for the violence.
Coronavirus
Don't miss out on the headlines from Coronavirus. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Lawless “cowards” who unleashed “reprehensible” chaos upon Melbourne on Tuesday have vowed to again take over city streets in protest at mandatory Covid vaccinations for construction workers.
Up to 2000 vicious rioters led police on a seven-hour game of cat and mouse as they wound their way along city streets, while lighting flares, hurling rocks, launching themselves on cars and invading the West Gate Bridge.
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.”
Innocent citizens, including children, were trapped terrified in cars as the mob took over the bridge, lashing out at some vehicles.
Police on Tuesday night vowed to track down and charge protesters who unleashed the violence – some boozing and drunk – as they faced off with the riot squad 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.
Protesters forced the closure of the West Gate Bridge as they marched, sat and lay down along the busy highway.
Mr Patton said innocent people on the West Gate Bridge were placed “in threatening circumstances” by protestors, some of whom damaged.
“I can’t imagine what it would have been like to be a citizen in your car …. how scary that would have been.”
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.”
Mr Patton promised new tactics to tackle the mob as police brace for more protests across Melbourne today.
“I’m not going to disclose what our tactics will be … but they will be different,” he said.
The Herald Sun understands police could confront the thugs head on.
But demonstrators have doubled down, saying: “we ain’t backing down.”
Mr Patton defended the police response to the protests, saying it was extremely challenging and police prioritised public safety.
500 police were in attendance, he said, including CIRT and mounted police.
“They seem to be intent on random violence,” he said.
“It’s clear this was not a protest, this was at times an affray.”
“When you’ve got a couple of thousands of people traipsing around town … throwing bottles, throwing lit flares… it defies logic for anyone to respond to that … and control the (crowd).”
He said he wasn’t aware of any members of the public getting injured.
Three officers were injured - suffering a rolled ankle, a hyper extended knee and one officer who was struck on the shin with a rock.
He said they were relatively minor injuries but they never should have happened in the first place.
“If it is necessary to use crowd control equipment … then that’s what we need to do.”
MINISTERS, NURSE UNION SLAM PROTESTS
Federal cabinet minister Alan Tudge, a senior Victorian MP, said he no longer recognised his city or state.
“The normal democratic checks and balances are gone. Basic freedoms are denied,” he said. “The community is fracturing. Whole industries, like construction, shut down at random. Kids are not allowed to go to school or play with their mates.”
Mr Tudge said his office was fielding desperate pleas for help from people whose businesses had been decimated.
“It is not right and cannot go on,” he said.
Industrial Relations Minister Tim Pallas said the protests marked a “sad day” for the construction sector.
“Unfortunately, aberrant behaviour among the minority has led to a very substantial public health risk,” he said, labelling the behaviour “reprehensible”. “We cannot simply go back to the way that things were being conducted.”
Mr Pallas said at least 50 per cent of construction sites had failed to meet Covid-safe requirements during recent inspections. New figures also revealed 337 cases recorded since August 5 have been linked to construction across 154 sites.
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation lashed protesters for “thinking only of themselves” and implored them not to “leave all the heavy lifting to nurses, midwives and care workers”.
“Nurses, midwives and carers are exhausted and frustrated as they watch protesters fight for their right to overwhelm our health system,” Victorian branch secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said.
But Federal Attorney-General Michaelia Cash put heat back on the Labor Party and called for it to cut ties with the CFMEU. “Today’s violence from a number of their members shows that Anthony Albanese needs to cut off the CFMEU once and for all,” she said. “Given their millions of dollars in donations to the ALP, it is imperative that Mr Albanese stops accepting their donations today.”
Victoria’s former Health Minister Jenny Mikakos has hit out at protestors, telling them to “grow up you man babies”.
“I’m so disgusted by the violence shown against journalists and police at today’s and other recent protests,” she tweeted on Tuesday.
“I’m incredulous that opposition to vaccination has sparked this.
“Vaccination saves lives.
“Almost everyone got multiple jabs as a baby. Grow up you man babies.”
POLICE, JOURNALIST INJURED IN CHAOS
Tense scenes unfolded when riot police faced off against the demonstrators outside the CFMEU building, where protest chaos first erupted on Monday.
PORT officers, mounted police and uniform cops formed a blockade outside the building and officers in gas marks ordered members of the public to move as they approached.
Three officers and a journalist were injured, with 62 arrests made on Tuesday.
“This is totally unacceptable. No person, whether it’s a police officer or a journalist, should come to work and sustain injuries by people who claim to be protesting for freedom,” Mr Patton said.
Police were forced to use a range of high-level weapons as protester tensions boiled over.
Mr Patton said pepperball rounds, foam baton rounds, smoke rounds and stinger grenades were used to try disperse angry crowds.
“They were necessary because we can’t allow this type of conduct to go on,” he said.
Mr Patton said police members were at one point forced to take evasive action after a mob of protesters swarmed their vehicles and began attacking them.
He said containing the protest was extremely challenging and public safety remained the top priority throughout the day.
“Any police force would have been challenged by the spontaneity and the sheer mass of numbers we saw involved with this group and the tactics employed throughout the day,” Mr Patton said.
“The focus for us is making sure we keep public safety at the forefront of what we are doing.”
I have never seen anything like this. Protestors now marching on the freeway. @theheraldsunpic.twitter.com/BGTUW30iyM
— Suzan Delibasic (@suzandelibasic) September 21, 2021
MARCHING, SINGING ON WEST GATE BRIDGE
Groups of protesters took a break from marching to sit and lie down on top of the bridge.
Many broke out into a rendition of Daryl Braithwaite’s ’90s hit The Horses, while lighting flares.
Protesters began marching into oncoming traffic about 2.30pm, with a broken ladder thrown across the road to block vehicles.
One protester could be heard shouting “this is our bridge” as thousands marched along the freeway.
At one point, a truck full of protesters stopped in the middle of the road and dozens of men jumped out.
Several buses packed with police officers arrived to block off a ramp on to the West Gate.
Protesters attempted to break through the barricade but were pepper sprayed and pulled to the ground.
Police wrestled two protesters and handcuffed them as they attempted to run on to the bridge.
Video posted to social media appears to show tradies snorting drugs while an angry mob marches past in the distance.
Two men in tradie gear were filmed in an alleyway, one snorting a substance lifted to his nose during the protest.
ANDREWS SLAMS PROTESTS
Premier Daniel Andrews said 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 in a statement.
“Thank you to the brave men and women of Victoria Police for their work today - and every day — to keep our community safe.
“We know vaccinations are our only ticket out of this pandemic. There is no other way.
“For those who think violence is the answer, I ask that you think of your fellow Victorians — doing the right thing over many months, following the advice of our health experts.
“We have come too far to turn back now.
“Please spare a thought for our healthcare workers, who are working such long hours looking after patients, many who are struggling to breathe.
“The more of us who get vaccinated, the fewer of us who will end up in hospital. It’s as simple as that.”
Industrial Relations Minister Tim Pallas on Tuesday night said the protests ran the risk of becoming a superspreader event.
He slammed the behaviour of protestors as “reprehensible” after journalists and police officers were assaulted.
“It’s been nothing short of criminal behaviour, let’s be frank,” he said on 3AW.
“These are a cabal of people who have very unclear objectives and agendas that don’t like vaccinations. They’re an antivax group that like parading around with a Donald Trump flag.
“If these people think that they represent mainstream Victoria, our values, or the things that we’ve been fighting for together, I’m more than happy for them to be unhappy with me or the Premier, or this government, but we will not rest in our efforts to protect the safety and well-being of all Victorians.”
Mr Pallas said three in four Victorians over 16 had turned out to get vaccinated, adding that Victorians were voting with their arms to put the pandemic behind them.
“But we can’t do it with the selfish and illegal actions of the people who seem to marinate with Qanon conspiracy theories, wandering around the City causing mayhem,” he said.
Mr Pallas said there had been “substantial issues” around the industry in recent weeks.
“The industry needs a reset,” he said.
POLICE FIRE TEAR GAS AMID CITY CHAOS
Tuesday’s chaos began outside the CFMEU office on Elizabeth St for the second day in a row, where protesters, demanding an end to lockdowns and mandatory vaccinations, were met by a police barricade.
The crowd then marched through the CBD to state parliament, setting off flares and walking through traffic.
The group arrived at parliament shortly before 12pm, where riot police blocked the steps.
Protesters chanted “sack Dan Andrews” and “for our kids” as riot police armed with pellet guns watched on.
Police officers, linked arm in arm, moved down Spring St towards parliament in a bid to contain the angry crowd from the sides.
Protesters responded by setting off flares as they moved up Bourke St to escape police.
Several journalists on the scene were doused in urine as the angry crowd chanted “fake news” and “report on the truth”.
The group, now numbering in the thousands, marched aimlessly through the CBD as hundreds of police followed.
Protesters tried to rally people from the street as they passed, encouraging them to join in the march.
Eggs were hurled at media reporting on the chaos and at police highway patrol cars.
About 1pm, a large crowd was urged to march back up Elizabeth St to CFMEU headquarters, where they were again met by barricade of police.
Chaos broke out on Elizabeth St, with protesters throwing glass bottles and flares at police.
Police responded by firing tear gas and rubber pepper bullets at the crowd.
Protestoes then scaled bus shelters to shout and egg on the group.
Others charged at police cars to kick and hurl bottles.
Many flocked to bottle shops to buy cans of beer as they marched down Exhibition St.
Just before 2pm, a large group of protesters marched down Swanston St towards Flinders Street station.
A man with a megaphone shouted: “Do not go to Parliament House, they will trap us.”
As they marched, one protester stopped to pull down his pants and urinate in the middle of the road. He told disgusted onlookers to “join the protest or go to hell”.
Police officers have blocked all of Flinders Street station and the intersection of Flinders and Swanston streets.
One man, Adam, from Melbourne’s northwest, told the Herald Sun he wanted to speak out against restrictions after losing his job.
“I can’t even pay my mortgage, I have a family of three,” he said.
“I’ve also had all of my vaccines and so has my family, but we can’t go on like this. I’m not here for that.
“Now construction is shut down for two weeks; it’s so bad, we just want respect.”
PROTESTERS ISSUE LIST OF DEMANDS
The protesters have demanded an immediate end to lockdowns and mask and vaccine mandates.
They have also called for the resignation of top political leaders, including Mr Andrews, in addition to the “mass distribution of ivermectin, vitamins C, D and zinc.”
The list of demands was posted in an encrypted Telegram group that promoted the protest outside the CFMEU.
Other demands include the immediate resumption of construction work in locked-down parts of Victoria.
DAILY PROTESTS THREATENED
Hundreds of demonstrators began gathering at the intersection of Victoria and Elizabeth streets from 9am, away from any police presence near the union building.
The police line began moving closer to protesters as tempers flared among the angry mob.
One protester set off a flare.
Another protester who identified himself as a CFMEU member told the Herald Sun he wanted union members’ demands heard.
“We don’t want them to make the jab compulsory, we have had enough of not being listened to, we will be out here every day,” he said.
Some protesters were seen kneeling and encouraged others to “kneel in solidarity”.
Protesters wearing hi-vis outfits trickled in from Queen Victoria Market, chanting “Sack Dan Andrews”.
More than 30 police joined riot police at the scene to barricade the front entrance of the building about 9.30am.
Police began asking protesters their reasons for being there, with officers seen escorting two men away. It was unclear if they were under arrest.
Anti-vax Telegram groups, with more than 8000 members, encouraged everyone to “bring friends and family in support” and “rally will continue until demands are met”.
Police arrested several people at Monday’s violent protest, but were unable to give an exact number on Tuesday morning.
Officers labelled it an “increasingly hostile” protest and have vowed to track down as “many of those in attendance as possible”.
SETKA BLAMES ‘DRUNKEN MORONS’
CFMEU state secretary John Setka said he would not pander to the “drunken morons” and “professional protesters” who descended on the union’s Melbourne headquarters on Monday.
“We’re not going to let a group of morons like that dictate and intimidate the union, I mean it’s not going to happen,” he told 3AW.
“The vast majority of protesters there were not construction workers, they’re just professional protesters. They just want to pick a fight all the time.”
He said only a “small contingent” present at the protest were union members, with the remainder not appropriately dressed for the sector — only donning hi-vis.
“They weren’t wearing work boots. They’re wearing tracksuit pants (and) brand new runners. I mean you can just tell, there were a lot of people there that had nothing to do with the construction industry whatsoever,” he said.
Setka said he did not need to answer to anyone who was not a union member.
“They’re not my members. They don’t pay my wages.”
The union boss said he was currently “out on the road” with another protest having just begun at the headquarters at 10am.
“At some time I probably will be popping in and out,” he said.
“But the whole industry’s sort of closed, so there’s not really much point in our office remaining open, to be quite honest.”
SHORTEN LABELS PROTESTERS ‘NAZIS’
Former opposition leader Bill Shorten hit out at the violent mob, accusing right-wing extremists of “weaponising” the lockdown.
“There is a network of hard-right man-baby Nazis, people who just want to cause trouble,” he told The Today Show on Tuesday.
“They want to complain about the vaccine and they deserve to get the full force of everything that’s coming their way.”
Mr Shorten also claimed some protesters were “fake tradies”.
“Some of those people in the crowd were construction workers, but others, I’m reliably informed, were fake tradies,” he said.
“They’d been down to the Reject Shop and got themselves a $2 hi-vis so they could pretend they were construction.”
The former Labor leader backed the Andrews government’s drastic move to shut down the construction industry for a fortnight, saying it was impossible for it to operate.
“No one wants to see the industry shut down at all … but we do have a small number of people within construction who are making it impossible and intolerable to function properly in the short term,” he said.
“It was sort of amusing at one level, where you had some construction tradies and people saying they were tradies sitting out in the main street having their lunch because they couldn’t meet in their tearoom.
“We haven’t seen the nurses and the doctors and the vaccinators out there carrying on like this.”
The protesters attempted to storm the CFMEU building, kicking in doors, smashing glass and brawling as they rounded on leader John Setka.
The union accused “outside extremists” of manipulating its members, saying the angry mob had been “infiltrated by neo-Nazis”.
“They’re not really unionists, they’re just the scum of the earth as far as I’m concerned,” Mr Setka said.
“Those drunken, fascist, un-Australian morons are the reason construction workers will be sitting at home and not getting paid for at least the next two weeks.”
Join the conversation
Sutton dragged into legal fight on cancelled Robbie Williams gig
A war of words has broken out about former Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton’s involvement in the decision to pull the pin on Robbie Williams’ Grand Prix concert.
Read more
Melbourne lockdown protesters sue over cops’ ‘unjustified violence’
Protesters are taking legal action after a judge ruled Victoria Police used “unlawful” and “unjustified violence” the day of their arrests during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read more