Melbourne shuts construction sites after violent anti-vax protest

Normal people are at the mercy of morons now. They have to tolerate them, get hit by them in traffic accidents, listen to their idiocy in public, read their nonsense online and pay the price for their stupidity.

What a terrible place to live and try to earn a livelihood.

Melbourne is like a sci-if dystopian film…

I saw a lot of police brutality too.

It could be YOUR Town Next.

Well look what happening now from few hundred to at 10.00 to 10,000 by 2.00 in 4 hour and shutting down the CBD. This protest is going to get real and get violent.

CMFEU boss clearly says most of the protesters were not union members.

Easy to get a hi vis jacket and pretend to be someone else

I have a radical idea.....if the Police stopped trying to stop the protests and let the marchers {in other protests, not this one } march, what is the problem ?

Adding a conflict to the mix helps no one, and it doesnt stop the lockdown protests anyway.

Have to say Police in Victoria and NSW have been way too aggressive and throwing people to the ground is not necessary to facilitate an arrest , except in extreme circumstances.

Fines of $500 to $5000 for not wearing a mask or being outside a designated 5 k's from home is also way over the top.

Japan hasnt had to resort to this ......I'm in no hurry to return to Australia in current circumstances.

Australia looks like a mad house now, nobody knows what's happening in there

So John Setka can identify everyone that is not a CMFEU member? Not many people can remember 30,000 faces that are registered as CMFEU members. Must be discomforting for him to realise that he is actually not god's gift to the union movement. Maybe he could donate some of his excessive salary to those who have had to stand down. (Pigs might fly too!)

Express sisterToday  04:24 pm JST

Right-wing antivaxxers getting violent. What are the odds. 1 in 1?

You're aware these are trade union members - most likely left wing - aren't you?

The one who's showing power-drunk fascist tendencies is Setka himself. Setka, ACTU boss Sally McManus and others were trying to pin the protests on "far-right extremists and anti-vaxxers," but the evidence on the street shows that this isn't the case. They just can't tolerate the fact that their own members are turning on them, and rightfully so. Never mind that it's been the unions, who own Andrews anyway, who finagled a deal to allow the construction industry to continue operating while Victoria's been in lockdown.

Thank you prionking. Your comments are spot on. Everyone should read them and understand what is going on there in Melbourne

You got to catch COVID! Which will put you in a hospital and then most probably kill you..

No it won't kill you, based on your immunity level, you will recover within 3-4 (strong immunity) to 13-14 days (avg immunity), more than 95% of the infected folks recovered w/o any vaccine, high majority of who died had comorbidity condition. Those with healthy immune system have no issue with the virus.. and that is the key.

So do get that vaccination, and it will definitely help against this virus.. but it won't lead to a healthy immune system.. that's where a change in lifestyle is required.

P smith where is the evidence they are infiltrators. The word of Setka???? You are aware who this person is and his record of being an upstanding honest citizen NOT. Recently in court for wife bashing.

reporters on the ground are reporting the majority of protestors are the workers demonstrating for their right - traditionally left wing and supporters of the current left wing government that till now has left them unscathed to the virus whilst locking everyone else down in the city. But the spread of virus from these workers go too much so the government finally turned on them

Are these guys right wing infiltrators ?

https://twitter.com/GideonCRozner/status/1440115086656294915

Express sisterToday  05:47 pm JST

You're aware these are trade union members - most likely left wing - aren't you?

Try reading the article.

More than 100 construction workers in high-visibility vests brawled and smashed union office windows in central Melbourne

Try comprehending the context.

Great place to live in and earn a livelihood..

Tell that to all the small business owners who have been forced to shut down, or all the young people who have no prospect of ever being able to afford a home, or - worst of all - all the people who have family members living more than 5km away and are therefore unable to see them. I was born and raised there, but have no intention of ever going back.

It's pretty disgusting to see some people here, label protestors as 'abnormal' and 'anti-vax' just because those people are rightfully taking a stand against government shills who think they have a right to determine what goes into your body! So many people are seeing only one side of the story and labeling anyone who speaks out as a danger to society! Doesn't take much to see both sides. Try that.

P. SmithToday  05:11 pm JST

prionkingToday  02:27 pm JST

The one who's showing power-drunk fascist tendencies is Setka himself. Setka, ACTU boss Sally McManus and others were trying to pin the protests on "far-right extremists and anti-vaxxers," but the evidence on the street shows that this isn't the case. *

What exactly is this”evidence on the ground” to which you refer. If it is actual evidence, you’ll be able to provide a source. No source = no evidence. No evidence = dubious claim, at best.

Take a look at the videos of the event. All tradies in their high-vis work gear. I'm not going to do your homework for you, so do some searches for yourself. Not hard to do. Then come back and point out where all these far-right extremists and anti-vaxxers are in these union protests.

@Express Sister Local construction union boss John Setka denounced the small group of violent protesters, whom he said were hurting the entire workforce.

Youre quoting Setka, the corrupt self-enriching parasite preying on workers as your font of knowledge on the issue? Very fitting. I can see how he would favor him.

CMFEU boss clearly says most of the protesters were not union members.

Yes, lets believe the corrupt thug.

History repeats as the ordinary workers battle corruption and fascism while the armchair socialists on JT throw abuse at them.

BigYenToday  01:16 pm JST

Important to note that the rioters have set themselves against not only the Government, but also the Australian Council of Trade Unions and their own Union, the CFMEU. There have been suggestions from all three of those quarters that the rank and file Union membership has been infiltrated by anti-lockdown activists, who are the forces orchestrating the riots. In other words, as the otherwise unlovely CFMEU boss John Setka says, the rioters who are responsible for this two-week shutdown are indeed “drunken Fascist un-Australian morons”.

The CFMEU has a history of dealing with opposition in less-than-gentle ways. Just for once, I hope that will also be the case this time.

You can't be serious. These are most likely your core Labor voters just wanting to get on with the job and make a living. Like all those other Victorians who've been locked down and unable to work.

The one who's showing power-drunk fascist tendencies is Setka himself. Setka, ACTU boss Sally McManus and others were trying to pin the protests on "far-right extremists and anti-vaxxers," but the evidence on the street shows that this isn't the case. They just can't tolerate the fact that their own members are turning on them, and rightfully so. Never mind that it's been the unions, who own Andrews anyway, who finagled a deal to allow the construction industry to continue operating while Victoria's been in lockdown.

Fascism is when a minority put the majority at risk due to ill-conceived beliefs.

A hysterical, low-IQ minority for the most part.

This pandemic has highlighted how education has failed many.

JimizoToday  03:45 pm JST

Fascism is when a minority put the majority at risk due to ill-conceived beliefs.

“A hysterical, low-IQ minority for the most part. 

This pandemic has highlighted how education has failed many.”

pot meet kettle….

CFMEU boss John Setka says, the rioters who are responsible for this two-week shutdown are indeed “drunken Fascist un-Australian morons”.

Just the opposite!

Important to note that the rioters have set themselves against not only the Government, but also the Australian Council of Trade Unions and their own Union, the CFMEU

Duly noted. Good for them!

Always good to see genuine organised labour taking it to the streets. You can advocate for vaccines and urge people to get vaccinated without irreparably eroding worker's rights with workplace mandates. Issues like this separate the champagne socialists from real friends of the working man.

What does trusting an experimental (highly ineffective)

What is experimental?

What is highly ineffective?

If your talking of the vaccine's that over a billion people have received, they cant be called experimental. Too many people have received them for that term to be applicable.

The vaccines in use have all shown they are effective at helping prevent death and hospitalization from covid-19.

These protesters who are against getting vaccinated put others at risk and are breaking laws during the protest. No sympathy for them.

Just get vaccinated if you really want to work, you drunk, violent anti-vaxx thugs!

More and more they reveal themselves.

Several clusters have been linked to construction sites, where COVID containment measures are said to be lax.

This lot thinks that spreading the virus is a right, they are going to find out the hard way that it isn't.

The workers, people who are struggling under the restrictions do deserve our sympathy, but they should realize that the more the virus spreads the worse their lot will be!

Stop listening to the louts who call themselves leaders and follow common sense!

Good for them. Requiring vaccines is a gross human rights violation. If the vaccines work, vaccinated people have nothing to worry about. If they don't, why would anyone want them?

History repeats as the ordinary workers battle corruption and fascism while the armchair socialists on JT throw abuse at them.

Curious to know when was the last time workers fought against vaccines!

Fascism is when a minority put the majority at risk due to ill-conceived beliefs.

The majority of Australians are fine with staying healthy and keeping safe, its the thugs, fed on lies ,who are creating problems for everyone!

I love the protesters telling the police,"You serve us." Should also remind the American 5-0 as well.

The police serve everyone. What should they do when the community is split? I don't envy the police in these situations.

They cause more problems for themselves and for others. Ignorance knows no bounds.

Thanks for the super spreader event and causing lockdown to last even longer. I really appreciate it, NOT!

when no child is dying from COVID! 

Wrong, children have died from Covid.

Natural immunity is MUCH safer than a vaccine that has no long term Data and has never been used before ever in any human let alone small children.. who aren’t adults!

Almost 5 million people have died from Covid, how many more should die for them to build 'Natural Immunity'?

Now I tell you, why that’s a problem there and also many other places. You accuse , punish and beat each other , while the only responsible beasts are those viruses. You still haven’t understood after two years, that it is a biological warfare and requires strict measures as well as one voiced fight against Covid-19, not amongst humans fighting each other, doing nothing against the viruses. What is so difficult to understand on this topic and an obvious logical requirement?

SteveinJapanToday

What a terrible place to live and try to earn a livelihood

Great place to live in and earn a livelihood..

One again - The normal person is being made to suffer through the behaviour of a minority. Expect the anti-vaxxers worldwide to continue to case problems in preventing the VAST and OVERWHELMING majority of people who are, or want to get vaccinated so we can get on with life. Such losers.

I just love to read antivaxxers spreading their ignorant and non factual ideas as facts. One example is right here "Or use many of the proven therapeutics", what proven therapeutics??? There are none, not proven ones anyway! And then there is one more, and I love this one as it is constantly repeated "Or build natural immunity." , so how do you build natural immunity? You got to catch COVID! Which will put you in a hospital and then most probably kill you, but before that, you gave it to your family and friends. And then when a new variant spears, you ( if you survived the first round) got to go through the whole thing again! And again! And again! And with each time your survival rates go down! Wouldn't it be easier to take a vaccine a booster that works for the new variant? The short answer antivaxxers give is no, because that would be submitting to the government which is out to get you not to help you!

Issues like this separate the champagne socialists from real friends of the working man.

It actually separates the violent fascist thugs from the sensible working people.

Once again - The normal person is being made to suffer through the behavior of a minority.

Well, that's par for the course these days. Haven't you been paying attention?

Aussie logic- vaccinate 100% to save 1% (COVID death rate) with a new vax that will require ongoing boosters.

Or you could just vaccinate the at-risk. Or use many of the proven therapeutics. Or build natural immunity.

But that would be no fun for these new dictators.

Important to note that the rioters have set themselves against not only the Government, but also the Australian Council of Trade Unions and their own Union, the CFMEU.

More evidence the unions are hopelessly corrupt. Democratically elected rank n file committees of the workers are needed to fight the hopelessly obsolete capitalist system and it's corrupt capitalistic union execs.

Call someone stupid and they will go to hell and back to prove you right.

Or they will go to hell and back and still be stupid!

Right-wing antivaxxers getting violent. What are the odds. 1 in 1?

Violent protests by drunken, brawling anti-vaxxers? Attacking reporters and spraying urine on them, throwing their beer bottles...even kicking a dog?

Par for the course for these losers.

The entire world would be better off banning these scum from all aspects of life.

Now they want us to believe Pfizer that the vaccine is good for the kiddies…???

Nobody is expecting that, that is why all the data is to be examined in detail by all the experts that ask for access for it, so nobody have to believe anything a company says, but the scientific consensus. Only deeply irrational antiscientific people would think the people responsible of the health of the different countries of the world are are in some fantasy-based conspiracy.

when no child is dying from COVID! Even the chief medical officer of NSW and QLD are questioning the need for under 12s to be faxed.

In the US alone 460 children died from COVID, and there are many more children that have conditions that make COVID (and other respiratory infections) a death sentence, of course antivaxxers quickly dismiss these children as a sacrifice they are willing to make to oppose vaccines, but the children's families are understandably against this immoral treatment of their kids.

Natural immunity is MUCH safer than a vaccine that has no long term Data and has never been used before ever in any human let alone small children.. who aren’t adults!

That is demonstrably false, not only because COVID already is correlated with long term and even permanent problems (and that is even without long term data yet available!) but because vaccinating do not require people to be exposed to the full range of risks that immunity is meant to prevent, natural immunity just mean having those risks in the first place to "prevent" them, which is obviously nonsense.

Nobody has to believe any company, that is just a strawman misrepresentation of the actual situation, where the people you have to trust is the whole scientific community of the world, that is the one that judges if the data is veridic and coherent and proves the safety.

The problems is that saying this out loud makes the opposition too obviously crazy, so antivaxxers try to hide it and pretend people will have to trust a company as if the scientists of the world had no word in the determination.

Or you could just vaccinate the at-risk. Or use many of the proven therapeutics. Or build natural immunity.

This has been already debunked by the worlds experts as not only completely ineffective to protect the vulnerable population, but even counterproductive, since it increases the risks of new variants appearing in the unvaccinated population that could make all previous immunity (even acquired from natural infection) unable to stop complications and death, if the experts say you are wrong it is just logical to listen to them instead of you.

Good for them. Requiring vaccines is a gross human rights violation. If the vaccines work, vaccinated people have nothing to worry about. If they don't, why would anyone want them?

No it is not, and the fake pseudoargument has been debunked easily long before the pandemic even began, normal people do not act only on egotistical self profit as many antivaxxers assume everybody should be, people can be rational and worry about people whose immunity can be defeated even after vaccination, or that can't be vaccinated (for example because antivaxxers oppose their age group from getting vaccines) or understand clearly how new variants that could spoil the whole community effort become easier to get as more people remain unvaccinated. There are many valid reasons why people are interested in getting as much people vaccinated as possible, the problem is that those reasons depends on being someone that can be interested in the common good and that can be logical. This disqualify a lot of the antivaxxers that are unable to be any of those things.

You're aware these are trade union members - most likely left wing - aren't you?

Try reading the article.

More than 100 construction workers in high-visibility vests brawled and smashed union office windows in central Melbourne

...

Local construction union boss John Setka denounced the small group of violent protesters, whom he said were hurting the entire workforce.

Much as the right wish it was the case, being pro-covid is not the same as being pro-worker.

It is the working men and women who are to blame. And it is the lax "Covid containment measures" which have fuelled the spread of the virus. Which is killing people. And destroying families and livelihoods. If only everyone would religiously follow all of the rules the virus would be beaten by now.