As one of the world’s longest lockdown’s continues, violent protests have once again broken out in the city of Melbourne
Police and demonstrators clashed on Monday night following an announcement by the state government that construction workers will be required to have a Covid-19 vaccine.
A protest outside the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) headquarters in Melbourne turned violent.
CFMEU officials say Monday’s protesters were not actually union members, but “neo-Nazi’s and right-wing extremists”
Victoria Police appear to be using bean bag guns against the protesters pic.twitter.com/ON1ULhQEgw
— Remy Varga (@RemyVarga) September 20, 2021
Protesters smashed glass windows, threw projectiles and caused damage to the building, prompting the deployment of riot police.
In particular, the Victorian headquarters of Australia’s major construction union, the CFMEU was vandalised.
CW: Violent content
— Eden Gillespie (@edengillespie) September 20, 2021
People throw projectiles and smash glass windows at the CFMEU building in protest against mandatory vaccines for construction workers pic.twitter.com/hYGKDlJ2n5
A large group of people, including construction workers, began gathering outside the CFMEU building on Monday morning to protest against the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination measures for construction industry workers announced by the Victorian authorities
#BREAKING: Protesters are now brawling and damaging CFMEU property.
— Eden Gillespie (@edengillespie) September 20, 2021
Protesters have smashed windows, kicked in glass and thrown bottles at the CFMEU building. pic.twitter.com/1iMEVFxWwi
Under the new guidelines, employees will be required to prove that they have received a vaccine dose in order to work.
In addition to this, Melbourne’s entire construction industry has been brought to a grinding halt for two weeks amid super spreader fears.
Authorities have confirmed that several people were arrested and property damaged following the riot squad being deployed.
The union has since condemned the attack, saying the violence occurred after the protest was “infiltrated” by right-wing groups.
“Please calm down. Can you at least give me the respect to talk? We’re not the enemy, I don’t know what you have heard,” CFMEU Victorian secretary John Sekta told protesters.
“I have never, ever said I support mandatory vaccination.”
Industrial Relations Minister Tim Pallas late on Monday confirmed the two-week shutdown from 11:59pm for metropolitan Melbourne, City of Ballarat, City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire and Mitchell Shire.
“We’ve been clear: if you don’t follow the rules, we won’t hesitate to take action – we have seen widespread non-compliance across the industry and that’s why we’re taking necessary steps to protect every single Victorian,” he said in a statement.
“We put the industry on notice just a week ago, we have seen appalling behaviour on-site and on our streets, and now we’re acting decisively and without hesitation.”
