Police denounce Covid-19 lockdown protests

Authorities have urged residents under lockdown to stay home, amid mounting fears that a new wave of anti-lockdown protests planned on Saturday could become superspreading events.

Protesters clash with police at the Queen Victoria Market in September 2020 in Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

Authorities have urged residents in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide to abide by health orders and stay home on Saturday, amid concern anti-lockdown protests planned across the country could become superspreading events.

Anti-lockdown activists have circulated plans on social media for a “Sydney CBD takeover”, including a march and a driving convoy from Victoria Park to Town Hall at midday to protest at the extended lockdown and other Covid-19 measures that raised “human rights” concerns, including vaccine passports.

Similar action has been organised for Melbourne, though police-wary protesters will wait until 11am on Saturday to announce the meet-up location.

Locations for protests have also been released for Adelaide, Canberra, Brisbane and Perth.

Organiser Anthony Khallouf, who is facing court for allegedly inciting protests last year in Melbourne, said the marches were a reaction to multiple lockdowns across the country and would attract thousands of supporters, with Sydney the “main event”.

NSW police said it had received an application for a planned protest in Sydney on Saturday that had since been withdrawn, making any protest activity “unauthorised”.

“The first priority for NSW police is always the safety of the wider community,” a spokesperson said. Victoria Police also condemned the protest, saying there would be a “highly visible police presence” across the Melbourne CBD on Saturday to ensure the public was complying with health orders.