Huge crowds descend on Melbourne, Sydney and other capitals for pandemic protests
Protesters have streamed into major Australian CBDs as part of nationwide protests against COVID-19 vaccination mandates and pandemic legislation.
Thousands of people held “freedom rallies” in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane today.
Counter rallies were also organised by pro-vaccination protesters.
Ant-vax crowds marched through Melbourne’s CBD. Protesters were seen carrying signs saying “freedom” and wearing t-shirts with “my body, my choice” written on them as they marched down the street.
A smaller counter rally with pro-vaccination protesters also took to the Melbourne CBD.
The protesters carried “pro vax, anti-fascist” signs.
Protests also unfolded across other parts of Australia; crowds flocked to the Sydney CBD.
Thousands of protesters congregated in Hyde Park as part of the “freedom rallies”.
The protests have now wrapped up.
No arrests were made, and no infringements were issued during the protests, NSW Police said.
Central Metropolitan Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Peter Thurtell, said he was pleased with the conduct of attendees.
“Overall, the protests were conducted peacefully with minimal disruption to the community, and I’m pleased to see that the vast majority of people complied with police directions,” he said.
“I want to thank the community who did the right thing today and acknowledge the more than 600 police officers who were deployed across the Sydney CBD and inner west for their professional response during today’s activities.”
People arrived at the Sydney rallies both carrying and draped in Australia and Eureka flags.
The protesters were heard chanting “freedom” along with the sound of drums.
9News reporter Airlie Walsh said many of the people in Sydney’s CBD were protesting vaccine mandates and previous lockdown measures.
Thousands of people also packed Rundle Park in Adelaide today as part of the “freedom rally” protests.
Similar to the protests in Melbourne and Sydney, crowds were seen carrying Australia and Eureka flags.
9News Reporter Kelly Hughes said people in the crowd told her they have lost their jobs or will lose their jobs due to vaccine mandates.
Protesters include social workers, teachers, health care workers, and lawyers.
Counter protests were held in Queensland with crowds flocking to the city. There was also an anti-vaccination rally in Brisbane, when marchers met in the CBD to walk towards parliament.
The leader of the United Australia Party, Clive Palmer, attended the protests in Brisbane.
Today’s rallies come after ongoing protests had been held in Melbourne CBD for the past week against the state’s proposed pandemic legislation.
Protests became violent this week and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews described it as “ugly behaviour” by extremists.
The crowd protested the Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (pandemic management) Bill 2021, which passed the lower house in October.
Other rallies around the nation have been held over previous months as people protest vaccine mandates, lockdown measures and now pandemic bills.
