On Saturday, thousands of protesters decrying COVID-19 vaccinations gathered in cities around Australia as smaller counter-rallies supporting health measures also marched. Australia’s vaccine program remains voluntary and highly successful, with nearly 85% of the population over the 16 fully vaccinated and life returning to relative normality for those double-jabbed.
However protesters rallied on Saturday across several of Australia’s major cities against vaccine mandates which are not universal and have only been applied to certain occupations by state authorities. In Melbourne, a crowd of several thousand called for state leader Daniel Andrews to be jailed and voiced anger over controversial new proposed pandemic powers.
Police stated that up to 10,000 gathered in Sydney where one dressed as Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace from the film “Braveheart” and another talking to the crowd dressed as former US President Donald Trump. There were no reports of clashes nor any sign of the gallows or calls to hang political leaders which had been filmed at earlier Melbourne protests – sparking concerns the rallies were encouraging violence.
