Home

Violence erupts at construction protest

Rhiannon TuffieldNCA NewsWire
Authorities are unimpressed by the protesters and say the government has “bent over backwards” to keep the industry running. David Crosling
Camera IconAuthorities are unimpressed by the protesters and say the government has “bent over backwards” to keep the industry running. David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia

A chaotic brawl has erupted outside CFMEU headquarters after hundreds of people showed up to protest mandatory vaccinations for construction workers.

Union boss John Setka tried to calm down the crowd but retreated inside when the demonstration turned violent.

More than 100 people dressed in hi-vis gathered outside the Melbourne building on Monday morning, rallying against the state government requirement that all construction workers receive at least one Covid-19 jab by September 23.

Many of them were not wearing masks.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

Staff locked themselves inside the building after a scuffle broke out and the situation escalated.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews slammed the violent demonstration, saying the rally “will not work”.

It comes just three days after tradies took to the streets to protest mandatory vaccines and bans on tea rooms.

Possible CFMEU Protest
Camera IconConstruction workers against vaccinations gather in front of the CFMEU headquarters in Elizabeth Street. David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia

“I have nothing but respect for the people who do the building of our city,” Mr Andrews said.

“But there would be a whole bunch of people at home because their industry is shut and they would be scratching their heads about why anyone would be protesting about being open.”

The Premier described the rally as an illegal gathering, paving the way for fines or arrests.

Possible CFMEU Protest
Camera IconConstruction workers are seen confronting CFMEU boss John Setka outside the union’s headquarters. David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia
Possible CFMEU Protest
Camera IconThe workers gathered in their hundreds outside the CFMEU. David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia

The angry workers yelled obscenities at union officials before wrestling and throwing projectiles.

Some workers screamed at Mr Sekta, calling him a “snake” and other slurs before he retreated inside.

Others yelled about mandatory vaccine requirements while alluding to the Covid-19 pandemic being a “conspiracy”.

The protestors yelled out “f**k the jab” as police watched on and controlled traffic.

Footage taken from the protest showed a dog being kicked during a fight between several men.

Tradies will need to have had their first dose of the vaccine by Thursday to be allowed to continue working.

Mr Andrews brought in the new restrictions due to the increasing risk of virus transmission within the construction industry, with the industry now at the heart of multiple outbreaks in Melbourne.

Speaking to reporters, he denied suggestions there was widespread vaccination hesitancy within the industry.

“None of the decisions are made lightly about the rules that apply on a building site - a good deal of work goes into that - and I would ask people to follow those rules,” he said.

“Frankly, if protests worked against this virus, we would be in a very different position, wouldn’t we.”

PREMIER PRESSER
Camera IconDaniel Andrews denied suggestions there was widespread vaccine hesitancy within the construction sector. NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw Credit: News Corp Australia

The industry has been allowed to operate through the pandemic but has had limits on the number of workers on site.

It could now face further restrictions or even closure after the Victorian government revealed 73 per cent of construction sites were breaking rules, with the majority of noncompliance in small, civil construction in Melbourne’s north and west, where most of the city’s transmission has unfolded.

The breaches included failure to display density limit and mask-wearing posters, QR codes, and inadequate Covid-safe plans.

Possible CFMEU Protest
Camera IconAuthorities are unimpressed by the protestors and say the govnerment has “bent over backwards” to keep the industry running. David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia

Covid-19 testing head Jeroen Weimar last week said the government had been working hard to keep the sector open.

“So many of us would love to be working almost normally and actually, people are bending over backwards to keep the construction industry going and keep important sites going for important reasons,” he said.

“We all need to be humble on this and recognise the privilege that those of us who are still able to work can get.”

rhiannon.tuffield@news.com.au

Originally published as Violence erupts at construction protest

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails