Lockdown protests erupt in Melbourne as police face off with demonstrators
Hundreds of protesters are in a tense standoff with police after gathering in Melbourne’s CBD in a second day of demonstrations.
Hundreds of protesters are in a tense standoff with police after gathering in Melbourne’s CBD in a second day of demonstrations.
Conspiracy theorists, anti-lockdown advocates and coronavirus deniers are rallying at Peel St,
within the fruit section of Queen Victoria Market, along with more than 100 officers, including Public Order Response, CIRT and mounted police, the Herald Sun reports.
anti lockdown protest at Queen Victoria Market? not sure, just passing by. pic.twitter.com/cTpxhM17m9
— Farchan (@efenerr) September 13, 2020
Several people have already been arrested and fined with police escorting more protesters away as they contain the demonstration.
Dozens of protesters marched away from police through the market and on to William St, where they chanted “freedom”.
He didn’t get far, rolling along the ground with police during scuffle @theage pic.twitter.com/JVEqYzTloX
— erin pearson (@epearson_3) September 13, 2020
Freedom Day rallies in Melbourne and Sydney last weekend saw dozens of people arrested, with a further 14 people detained in Melbourne yesterday.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews slammed the gatherings as “selfish and stupid” at a press conference today, where he announced a $3bn rescue package for businesses crippled by stage four lockdowns.
More to come …
Labor MPs renew push for negative gearing shake-up after PM’s $4.3m beach house splash
Labor MPs want negative gearing reform to be put back on the table in the wake of revelations Anthony Albanese purchased a $4.3m home, threatening a pre-election schism between the PM and Jim Chalmers over housing tax policies.
Khaled Beydoun kicked out of Australia
High profile pro-Palestinian activist and American law professor Khaled Beydoun has been kicked out of Australia after his visa was revoked.