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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2021/sep/21/australia-covid-victoria-construction-industry-daniel-andrews-melbourne-gladys-sydney-vaccine-pfizer-moderna-astrazeneca-berejiklian
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| Australia Covid live news update: riot police in Melbourne as protesters head to parliament; NSW records 1,022 cases, 10 deaths; Victoria records 603 cases, one death | Australia Covid live news update: riot police in Melbourne as protesters head to parliament; NSW records 1,022 cases, 10 deaths; Victoria records 603 cases, one death |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Follow today’s news | Follow today’s news |
| Protestors are now heading towards the M1 freeway in South Melbourne in the hundreds, shutting down traffic. | |
| Professor Mary-Louise McLaws has told the Covid committee it was “highly inadvisable” for Australia to base its policy and national plan on modelling, given they can’t fully account for “geography, behaviours, and unknowns”. | |
| Instead, Australia should be looking to the experience of countries like Singapore, where children’s infection rates shot up after easing restrictions. | |
| McLaws thinks Australia should be revamping its vaccination program to target children and young adults, given the higher rates of infection in those age groups. | |
| She cites the fact people aged zero to 19 now make up 25% of the caseload. Although Covid is less severe in young people, she noted that 11% of people in that age group still end up in hospital and 5% in ICU. | |
| McLaws blames the fact Australia “didn’t have enough vaccine” for younger age groups, meaning those aged below 39 are “at the back of the queue”, with eligibility only open since August and more recently for those aged 12-15. | |
| RSPCA Victoria has released a statement in response to reports a dog was allegedly kicked at protests against mandatory vaccinations in the construction sector yesterday, confirming it is “currently investigating” the matter as a “priority”. | |
| RSPCA Victoria Chief Inspector Michael Stagg: | |
| “Animal cruelty is never acceptable under any circumstances and RSPCA Victoria considers all cases of animal cruelty high priority. It was disturbing to see the footage which appeared to show intentional cruelty inflicted on a defenceless animal. I assure the Victorian community that RSPCA Victoria’s Inspectorate is investigating this alleged case of cruelty with the intention of holding the perpetrator accountable to the full extent of the law. There is no excuse for any animal to be subjected to abuse and we want to send the strong message that we will continue to hold people to account for such behaviour.” | |
| Under Section 9 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (POCTAA), it is illegal to abuse, beat, worry, torment or terrify an animal and anyone found guilty of this offence is liable for a maximum penalty of $45,435 or 12 months’ imprisonment. | |
| The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation is scathing of the protestors, telling them to “stop thinking only of themselves, stop the violence, and put the health and welfare of the Victorian community first”. | |
| “Nurses, midwives and carers are exhausted and frustrated as they watch protestors fight for their right to overwhelm our health system,” secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick says. | |
| More on the protests from AAP: | |
| Rubber bullets have been fired at an angry mob protesting mandated Covid-19 vaccinations for the construction industry and other health restrictions. | |
| Hundreds of protesters, many wearing hi-vis gear, started their second day of protests outside Melbourne’s CFMEU headquarters before moving on to Parliament, after warnings from the riot squad. | |
| They have since made their way back to the CFMEU offices, with the large crowd stretching back to the Queen Victoria Market. | |
| Police riot squad officers, supported by the mounted branch, had warned the group to stay back and fired some rubber bullets into the crowd, while empty bottles and cans were thrown back at police. | |
| The crowd then walked towards the police line with hands raised chanting “you serve us”. | |
| Protesters made their way to parliament just before noon before making their way to Flinders Street station. | |
| Empty cans of rum and cola lay strewn across the road outside Parliament once the crowd dispersed. | |
| Flares and fireworks were fired off as they marched up Swanston Street and a news crew has been assaulted. | |
| Not long before they started marching from near the CFMEU office in the morning, police had told them to back down and leave. | |
| “Attention, this is a police public order warning. You have previously been directed to leave,” an officer inside a line of riot police and officers on horseback told the crowd. | |
| “Leave now or force may be used. No further warnings will be given.” | |
| The rally is opposing a Victorian government mandate requiring all construction workers to get vaccinated against Covid-19. | |
| The group were chanting “fuck the jab” and “fuck off (premier) Dan Andrews” but were blocked from accessing the CFMEU offices by a line of police officers. | |
| On Monday, riot police were called in to disperse a group of about 500 protesters, who threw bottles at Victorian CFMEU construction secretary John Setka and smashed the office’s door down. | |
| Setka said the protesters were not all CFMEU members and blamed “neo-Nazis and right-wing extremists” for hijacking the event. | |
| “There was a small minority of construction workers, some of them when it all got violent just walked away from it. It was hijacked by the professional protesters,” Setka told the ABC. | |
| He said the CFMEU was “pro-vax” but had always supported freedom of choice. | |
| Setka urged the Victorian government to tackle misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines. | |
| Federal member for Maribyrnong and former union leader and Bill Shorten said he believed a group of professional troublemakers were to blame for Monday’s “shocking violence”. | |
| “I never thought I would see a scene where you have people who call themselves Nazis using encrypted message systems to bring in a rent-a-crowd,” he told the Nine Network on Tuesday. | |
| On Monday night, the state government announced the industry would be shut down from Tuesday for two weeks in metropolitan Melbourne, City of Ballarat, City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire and Mitchell Shire. | |
| All worksites will need to demonstrate compliance with health directions before reopening. | |
| This includes a requirement for workers to show evidence of having had at least one dose of a vaccine before they return to work on 5 October. | |
| Protestors are continuing their march through Melbourne’s CBD. They have just circled back to Flinders Street Railway Station amidst riot police on horseback. | Protestors are continuing their march through Melbourne’s CBD. They have just circled back to Flinders Street Railway Station amidst riot police on horseback. |
| A string of police officers guard the steps to Flinders Street, armed with what looks like pepper spray. | A string of police officers guard the steps to Flinders Street, armed with what looks like pepper spray. |
| Water bottles are being thrown at the police, with calls of “boo” throughout the crowd. | Water bottles are being thrown at the police, with calls of “boo” throughout the crowd. |
| Further north still... (and not Covid). | Further north still... (and not Covid). |
| Justin Trudeau’s government looks set to be returned in elections in Canada, the national broadcaster says. Not sure on a minority or majority yet. Trudeau has, predictably, won his seat of Papineau (in Montreal). | Justin Trudeau’s government looks set to be returned in elections in Canada, the national broadcaster says. Not sure on a minority or majority yet. Trudeau has, predictably, won his seat of Papineau (in Montreal). |
| Some more information on the ‘friends bubble’ for under-18s in NSW. | Some more information on the ‘friends bubble’ for under-18s in NSW. |
| You can pick two, and only two, friends. | You can pick two, and only two, friends. |
| Choose wisely young people. | Choose wisely young people. |
| NB Point 3. Don’t even think about saying ‘hello’ Mum and Dad. (You’re so embarrassing anyway!) | NB Point 3. Don’t even think about saying ‘hello’ Mum and Dad. (You’re so embarrassing anyway!) |
| Afternoon all, we will keep watching the protests in Melbourne. | Afternoon all, we will keep watching the protests in Melbourne. |
| But heading north briefly, to Queensland, and the debate over the threshold for opening up. The premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, has said debate over a 90% threshold for re-opening borders was “misinformation”. | But heading north briefly, to Queensland, and the debate over the threshold for opening up. The premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, has said debate over a 90% threshold for re-opening borders was “misinformation”. |
| With that, I shall leave you for today, and pass you over to Ben Doherty who will keep bringing you all the updates from today’s protests and Covid-19 news. | With that, I shall leave you for today, and pass you over to Ben Doherty who will keep bringing you all the updates from today’s protests and Covid-19 news. |
| See you tomorrow. | See you tomorrow. |
| Seven news reporter Paul Dowsley has been stuck once again at the Melbourne protests, this by someone throwing a can at his head. | Seven news reporter Paul Dowsley has been stuck once again at the Melbourne protests, this by someone throwing a can at his head. |
| Canberra has notched up another 16 coronavirus infections as the ACT boosts mental health funding to help get residents through lockdown, reports Georgie Moore from AAP. | Canberra has notched up another 16 coronavirus infections as the ACT boosts mental health funding to help get residents through lockdown, reports Georgie Moore from AAP. |
| Of Tuesday’s cases, nine were linked to known sources, and at least 11 were in the community for part of their infectious period. | Of Tuesday’s cases, nine were linked to known sources, and at least 11 were in the community for part of their infectious period. |
| ACT chief minister Andrew Barr has announced an additional $14m to boost immediate and longer-term mental health services. | ACT chief minister Andrew Barr has announced an additional $14m to boost immediate and longer-term mental health services. |
| This includes boosted support for people with eating disorders, alcohol and drug services, and Indigenous and social housing residents. | This includes boosted support for people with eating disorders, alcohol and drug services, and Indigenous and social housing residents. |
| The territory’s lockdown is scheduled to run until 15 October. | The territory’s lockdown is scheduled to run until 15 October. |
| Not a totally well-organised protest then... | Not a totally well-organised protest then... |