A few dozen police stood between protesters and the front of Parliament House on Spring Street on Tuesday as about 500 protesters expressed their animosity towards the proposed pandemic legislation.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese condemned the violent images on display at the protests. “Peaceful protest is a fundamental right in our democracy,” he said in a tweet. “The violent images on display in Melbourne have no place and should be condemned by all political leaders.”
Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy also condemned the “ridiculous” behaviour of Melbourne protesters,after some were filmed chanting around a makeshift gallows on Monday night.
Footage captured overnight showed a 4WD pulling a large gallows display along Spring Street before parking outside Parliament House.
The structure had a rope connected to a small cross at the bottom bearing the word “treason” with a protester dressed as the grim reaper.
The gallows display was met with chants against Premier Daniel Andrews,including,at one stage “kill Dan Andrews”.