Inside Melbourne’s anti-lockdown protests as tensions reach boiling point
Ten people were arrested at an anti-lockdown protest in the CBD today, which has been slammed by Australia’s chief medical officer, who says the protesters’ coronavirus conspiracy theories are “nonsense”.
VIC News
Don't miss out on the headlines from VIC News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Angry protesters calling for tough lockdown restrictions to be eased have clashed with police, sending one officer to hospital.
Violence broke out when police arrested 10 people outside the state parliament yesterday, resulting in crowds spilling onto Spring St and swarming police vehicles and officers.
Although focusing on the lockdown, demonstrators also labelled coronavirus a conspiracy, even suggesting it was created by billionaire Bill Gates.
Some also hit out at the safety of the 5G network and slammed compulsory vaccinations.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy slammed conspiracy theorists pushing “nonsense”, saying 5G had “nothing at all to do with coronavirus”.
“I understand people have the right to protest, but they should not be breaching those social distancing rules,” Prof Murphy said.
“If they are, they should be held to account.
“There is, unfortunately, a lot of very silly misinformation out there,” he said.
“There is absolutely no evidence about 5G doing anything in the coronavirus space.
“I have unfortunately received a lot of communication from these conspiracy theorists myself.
“It is complete nonsense. 5G has got nothing at all to do with coronavirus.”
Chants demanding the downfall of the media began as individual demonstrators targeted journalists as they arrived on scene and questioning their motives.
One woman who claimed to be a teacher told the crowd she had government documents to prove the early creation of the virus.
“I have evidence of the virus being created in the ‘70s with documents to prove it,” she said.
“The universal coronavirus vaccine was created in the early 2000s by the United States.
“They want to force a global microchip of humans and mandatory vaccination, it’s all written in the New Testament. We do not consent.”
Police spokeswoman Alanna Jarry said most of those arrested were for failing to comply with social distancing requirements.
“Police arrested 10 people, including two organisers of the event. OC spray was deployed during an arrest of one individual,” she said.
“Three of the offenders will also be charged with assaulting a police officer, and another offender will be charged with discharging a missile after allegedly throwing a bottle at police.
“As a result of the protest activity, a police officer who was in attendance has been taken to hospital for what is believed to be a rib injury.”
All offenders were released pending summons.
Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos slammed the protesters saying the world was facing a very real coronavirus threat.
“It’s incredibly disappointing that people would be protesting or seeking to suggest we don’t have a pandemic,” she said.
Ms Mikakos said parts of the world, such as the US and UK, that have been ravaged by the virus knew of the pandemic’s dangers.
“Those people know that this pandemic is not fake news,” she said.
“We’ve had 18 Victorians lose their lives as a result of COVID-19.
“I know that there are many people who are feeling very sad today because they don’t have their mothers or their grandmothers with them whose lives were lost as a result of this virus.
“That’s incredibly disappointing that some individuals do not understand that these restrictions have been put in place to keep them safe, to keep their families safe and the whole of Victoria safe.”
MORE NEWS