Protestors did not gather in Melbourne’s CBD today, with police patrols returning in numbers to protect vaccination centres, following abuse directed at health workers in previous days
Community organisation cohealth was forced to temporarily close its vaccination centre in Melbourne’s Town Hall, after health workers were reportedly spat on and abused yesterday.
cohealth chief executive Nicole Batholomeusz said staff had been physically and verbally abused in the city during the protest, and that they had been “targeted because they were wearing their cohealth identification”.
“We have instructed all staff not to wear their cohealth uniforms, lanyards or scrubs in the city, to avoid being targeted.
Premier Daniel Andrews condemned the actions of protestors who targeted health workers, and said he expected Victoria Police to identify and “deal with” those responsible for the abuse.
Due to a disruptive demonstration in the city, cohealth Central City and cohealth Melbourne Town Hall Vaccination centre have been forced to close for client and staff safety.
— cohealth (@cohealth_au) September 23, 2021
We hope to be safe to open by Monday 27 September so we can continue providing health care to our city. pic.twitter.com/H8eAravF4T
Police arrested more than 200 people at the Shrine of Remembrance yesterday, after a stand-off between officers and protestors lasted several hours
Protestors were mostly given infringement notices, with some charged with more serious offences for using flares and throwing objects.
Two police officers were struck in the head with bottles, while another officer was admitted to hospital with chest pains.
The demonstrations were originally planned to protest against new regulations that saw the entire construction industry shut down and tradespeople forced to get vaccinated against COVID-19 if they want to return to work.
But the state’s Deputy Commissioner says it is difficult to determine what demographics the protestors were from with speculation some may have been right-wing extremists.
It comes as Premier Daniel Andrews says many of the individuals who attended the demonstrations are an insult to the majority of tradies across Victoria.
Meanwhile, Australian Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young believes Australians should be on high alert.
Air-traffic to resume over Melbourne CBD following flight ban
Meanwhile, media organisations in Melbourne have successfully challenged the flight ban over the CBD which would have banned live broadcast of the protest this week.
Nine Network, owner of The Age, Seven and the ABC were granted a stay by the Federal Court, which means live coverage can now resume until the case progresses.
Restrictions were placed on air-traffic by Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority at the request of Victoria Police, after concerns were raised that protestors were watching aerial live streams to monitor police operations.
The case will now proceed to a trial.
