After the violent clash between the union officials and hundreds of protestors in the anti-vaccine mandate protest in Melbourne, the Australian authorities decided to shut down construction sites in the city for two weeks. Many protestors attacked the officials with bottles and crates.

The protests raged after the Victorian government, in the wake of the spike in COVID-19 cases in Victoria, asked construction workers to get at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccination administered by Friday.

Condemning the entire act, Tim Pallas, state Industrial Relations Minister said, “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." To bring the ruckus under control, specialist units were called in with crowd control equipment. Several people have been arrested by the Victorian police for disorderly conduct. 

The Australian economy will be badly impacted by the forced construction site closures. Some economists even stated that Australia's A$2 Tn (US$1.45 Tn) economy may fall in the pit of a second recession if the extended lockdowns continue.

Numerous anti-lockdown rallies have been organised to resist the government’s decision of extending lockdowns to control the spread of COVID-19 leading to many arrests by police.

On the other hand, as 70-80% of the adult population is double jabbed, strict lockdown restrictions on outdoor gatherings and exercise have been eased by the government in Sydney and Melbourne. 53% of the population is vaccinated in NSW and 44% in Victoria.

Image source: WBFO