Melbourne anti-lockdown protesters move rally from CBD to suburbs

More than a dozen arrested, 21 people fined as anti-lockdown protesters move rally to beach, suburban park, to dodge police.

Anti-lockdown protesters moved a rally from Melbourne’s CBD to a suburban park and then the beach in a bid to avoid police but more than a dozen have been arrested for coronavirus breaches.

Organisers instructed the few protesters who arrived at the Victorian State Library in Melbourne’s CBD to head to Elsternwick Park in Brighton due to a heavy police presence at the original location.

Up to 16 people were arrested and 21 people were fined for gathering in the Elsternwick area in a “blatant breach” of state’s coronavirus directions, Victoria Police said in a statement on Saturday afternoon.

“We are frustrated that these people continue to put the lives of Victorians at risk,” it reads.

Most of the arrests were for breaching the Chief Health Officer directions and refusing to provide name and address.

Up to 100 people attended the “Freedom Day” rally but many splintered into smaller groups and headed to the foreshore and several marched down Ormond Esplanade,

Confusion reigned among encrypted chats with many asking why the protest moved and where they should head once police arrived at the park.

One of the more than 700 members in the chat labelled the move to the park as “ridiculous” because it was 22 minutes away from the original location.

A woman is arrested at Elsternwick park in Melbourne. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Daniel Pockett

One group marched through the streets chanting “freedom” and waving a banner as mounted police followed.

Images from the park show a large amount of people walking around, some with families, though it is not clear if they are all protesters or simply residents enjoying the warm weather.

Organisers, who touted the rally as “like nothing you’ve ever seen before”, claimed up to 200 people were present.

They described the scenes as a “massive win” and said it was “demoralising” for police.

But Premier Daniel Andrews had a simple message for those at the rally.

“Go home,” he said.

“You are potentially putting the strategy at risk. No-one should be doing anything to contribute to the spread of this virus.”

Protesters were expected to gather about 11am on Saturday morning with the exact location only revealed to attendees until 30 minutes prior.

Encrypted messages are being used to communicate to the hundreds who have shown interest.

In a digital poster published among private Facebook groups the organisers are warning protesters to “be ready to move in fast”.

“Some members of society will choose to be dressed in all black armour, against unarmed peaceful men and women, let’s see if we can change their minds and inspire them to rise up and put down their shields,” it says.

Hundreds of police, including the riot squad, were on standby across various locations in the CBD on Saturday morning, but have since moved towards the park in Brighton.

People out enjoying the sunny weather in Elsternwick Park are confronted by police dispatched to break up anti-lockdown protests. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Victoria Police warned officers will be taking a zero-tolerance approach.

“Victoria Police maintains a strong capacity to respond to potential public protests at any point in time,” a spokesman said.

“Over the weekend, we will have resources committed to ensuring that people who deliberately breach the directions, in both regional and metropolitan areas, receive fines or are arrested, if necessary.

“We will have no hesitation in taking the same action again for those who blatantly breach the restrictions.”

It comes after 70 people were arrested and 170 fined during anti-lockdown protests at the Queen Victoria Market last weekend.