Riot police have moved in to disperse crowds at the Melbourne headquarters of the CFMEU, after a protest against mandatory vaccines turned ugly, with the union blaming “outside extremists” for the violence.
Police used pepper spray and rubber bullets to move the crowd, which has now taken over the intersection outside the Queen Victoria Market.
Bottles were thrown at the already smashed glass entrance doors to the building in Melbourne’s city centre as those protecting the entry sought refuge indoors just before 4pm.
Protesters also seemed to be turning against each other, with a number of small fights breaking out within the crowd of bright orange and yellow.
The union released a statement just after 4pm, saying it has always supported freedom of choice regarding vaccination.
“We are not going to be intimidated by outside extremists attempting to intimidate the union, by spreading misinformation and lies about the union’s position,” the statement said.
“The CFMEU will always advocate for safety, jobs, and freedom of choice.”
Earlier on Monday, hundreds of construction workers wearing high-vis, and their supporters, stormed the building, protesting against new mandatory vaccination rules for the building industry.
LANGUAGE AND VIOLENCE WARNING ON VIDEO
Chanting “f*** the jab”, those rallying are against having to show proof of their vaccination to be allowed back on building sites, with some saying they would rather the entire construction industry be shut down.
There is currently a 25 per cent cap on the industry’s workforce in Victoria, with tradies required to have had their first dose of a vaccine by this Thursday in order to be allowed back to work.
Monday’s protest escalated when two union officials, including Victorian construction branch secretary John Sekta, came outside the Elizabeth Street office to speak to protesters just before midday.
Mr Setka was met with boos and insults from the crowd, while some protesters hurled bottles.
“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,” he says to protesters, in a video posted to social media.
“I have never, ever said I support mandatory vaccination.”
Once Mr Setka went back inside, the protesters smashed a glass door to the building.
By 1pm the protest had swelled to fill both sides of Elizabeth Street, with union delegates standing at the front of the building to stop protesters from entering.
Rain and hail has not deterred the protesters, with calls for Mr Setka to come back outside and march with them.
Some of those rallying say they will come to the CFMEU office every day until the union bows to their demands.
It is unclear whether all of those protesting are construction workers, after a message on the Melbourne Freedom Rally Telegram group encouraged anti-lockdown protesters to join them.
Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters in Melbourne during his daily coronavirus update the protests were “not smart, they are not safe”.
“Protests don’t work. Getting vaccinated works, following the rules works. That’s how you stay open, that’s how you get open,” Mr Andrews said.
Monday’s rally comes after construction workers set up plastic chairs and tables in the middle of streets across Melbourne on Friday, protesting against lockdown restrictions that included shutting down tea rooms for morning breaks.
AAP
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