Melbourne anti-lockdown protesters likened to ‘anarchists’ who stormed White House

One Premier has likened anti-lockdown protesters in Melbourne to the thugs who barged into the White House, describing them as bullies.

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has lashed the violent protesters in Melbourne, describing them as thugs and likening them to rioters who infamously barged into the White House.

Mr McGowan was being asked about the border situation with Victoria — which is currently deemed high risk but is on the verge of being elevated to extreme risk, meaning no one would even be allowed in for compassionate reasons — when he went on a tangent about the protests.

“I’ve never seen anything like it — reminds me of how those people behaved at Washington, this sort of mad behaviour of people, who should know better, acting like thugs and bullies and anarchists,” he told ABC radio on Thursday.

“It’s disgraceful, it’s un-Australian, it’s rotten and I personally think that police have been very restrained in the way they dealt with these people.

“I know they’ll probably complain that the police were behaving badly or brutalising them or whatever.”

The violent protests in Melbourne followed outrage over new rules for the construction industry, vaccine mandates and lockdowns.

WA Premier Mark McGowan says the protesters are bullies, thugs and anarchists. Picture: Matt Jelonek/Getty Images

Mr McGowan also expressed concern about what could have happened if the protesters had managed to grab hold of a police officer in a vehicle.

“I wouldn't have been surprised if they had been beaten to death — this is outrageous conduct that they’re engaging in,” he said.

“Police have to do what they have to do to pull these people into line ... it’s a shocking example of what can happen. I just don’t want to see it happen here.”

There will be a freedom rally in WA later on Thursday, with protesters planning to march to the Premier’s office.

But Mr McGowan pointed out his state was free of Covid-19 restrictions, with events including the Perth Royal Show and the AFL grand final this weekend.

“Grow up, act like adults. We are free, we don’t have lockdowns,” he said.

The Premier also renewed his call for people to get vaccinated against coronavirus.

People are urged to get vaccinated. Picture: Matt Jelonek/Getty Images

Mr McGowan later told reporters that the NSW truck driver who came to WA then tested positive for the virus had 22 contacts in WA, which health authorities were monitoring.

Six are considered close contacts, with one already returning a negative test result, while 16 are casual contacts.

Mr McGowan also urged WA residents in Victoria to come home before the state was elevated to the extreme risk category.

“If you’re in Victoria and you’re a West Australian, and you want to come home, you should do it now,” he said.

“You apply for your G2G pass, you get vaccinated, you get tested and you come home now.”

Originally published as Melbourne anti-lockdown protesters likened to ‘anarchists’ who stormed White House