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| Australia Covid live news update: Daniel Andrews condemns Melbourne protesters; NSW records 1,022 cases, 10 deaths; Victoria records 603 cases | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Follow today’s news | Follow today’s news |
| Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has released a short statement, slamming the protesters today and yesterday, saying their actions have only increased the risk of the virus spreading. | |
| This is what some parts of Melbourne look like right now: | |
| Joining in the fray, the firefighters union has lashed out at “opportunists” protesting in Melbourne. | |
| United Firefighters Union (UFU) secretary Peter Marshall condemned the protesters and attacks on police and emergency services: | |
| However, in a final statement, the UFU urged their members to get vaccinated, but said it does not support the mandating of vacciantions. | |
| Victoria police’s chief commissioner Shane Patton, also confirmed that officers today used pepper balls, foam baton rounds, smoke bombs and stinger grenades which “deploy rubber pellets”: | |
| Chief commissioner Shane Patton of the Victorian police is speaking now, and described the protests as a very “challenging” environment for police. | |
| Police have confirmed that between 1,000 and 2,000 people protested today, that three police officers and one journalist were injured. | |
| The representative confirmed that 44 people were arrested, and that more arrests are due. | The representative confirmed that 44 people were arrested, and that more arrests are due. |
| Victoria police are holding a press conference right now. | Victoria police are holding a press conference right now. |
| Federal assistant treasurer and housing minister Michael Sukkar has told ABC Radio he is “dismayed” by the protesters in Melbourne, condemning them and implying the protesters were being influenced by external forces: | Federal assistant treasurer and housing minister Michael Sukkar has told ABC Radio he is “dismayed” by the protesters in Melbourne, condemning them and implying the protesters were being influenced by external forces: |
| This is a shocking video, but I am not sure of the context or the timing, but as a reflection on the protest, pretty terrifying: | This is a shocking video, but I am not sure of the context or the timing, but as a reflection on the protest, pretty terrifying: |
| The Community and Public Sector Union has called for the “insanity to end” in a statement condemning the “violent behaviour from some extremists” at the protests today and yesterday. | The Community and Public Sector Union has called for the “insanity to end” in a statement condemning the “violent behaviour from some extremists” at the protests today and yesterday. |
| In a statement, the CPSU says efforts to vaccinate construction workers are being “undermined” by the actions of the protesters: | In a statement, the CPSU says efforts to vaccinate construction workers are being “undermined” by the actions of the protesters: |
| So, CFMEU boss Dave Noonan is in a bit of a back and forth with the ABC’s Patricia Karvelas about the makeup of today’s protest. | So, CFMEU boss Dave Noonan is in a bit of a back and forth with the ABC’s Patricia Karvelas about the makeup of today’s protest. |
| Noonan is insistent that these protests are an attempt to “co-opt” the union, that a majority of the attendees are “anti-vaccination extremists” and “far right and neo-Nazi groups”. | Noonan is insistent that these protests are an attempt to “co-opt” the union, that a majority of the attendees are “anti-vaccination extremists” and “far right and neo-Nazi groups”. |
| But Karvelas pushed Noonan on that point, saying there were reports that “at least half” of the protesters are “genuinely” construction workers and tradies. | But Karvelas pushed Noonan on that point, saying there were reports that “at least half” of the protesters are “genuinely” construction workers and tradies. |
| Noonan was dismissive: | Noonan was dismissive: |
| When asked how he can tell who is and isn’t a “genuine” tradie, Noonan scoffs and points to his 30 years in the construction industry: | When asked how he can tell who is and isn’t a “genuine” tradie, Noonan scoffs and points to his 30 years in the construction industry: |
| Protesters are walking in the direction of oncoming traffic to evade a line of riot police waiting for them as they return from the West Gate freeway. | Protesters are walking in the direction of oncoming traffic to evade a line of riot police waiting for them as they return from the West Gate freeway. |
| They are continuing to yell obscenities about Dan Andrews. | They are continuing to yell obscenities about Dan Andrews. |
| The police have begun firing rubber bullets at the crowd. | The police have begun firing rubber bullets at the crowd. |
| Riot squad police are awaiting protesters as they make their way back down the West Gate freeway. | Riot squad police are awaiting protesters as they make their way back down the West Gate freeway. |