Bizarre moment Scott Morrison fronts press conference on Melbourne 5.8 magnitude earthquake

Bizarre moment Scott Morrison fronts press conference on Melbourne earthquake – after days of silence on anti-vax tradies’ violent rampage that brought the city to a standstill

  • Melbourne was rocked by a magnitude 5.8 earthquake on Wednesday morning
  • Scott Morrison addressed the public from Washington in a press conference
  • He said he understood those in the affected areas would be ‘disturbed’ by event


Scott Morrison has fronted a press conference from Washington DC to provide an update on the magnitude 5.8 earthquake that rocked Melbourne and regional Victoria on Wednesday.

No deaths have been recorded but tremors have been felt as far as NSW and Tasmania with a Melbourne burger restaurant bearing the brunt of the damage.

The epicentre of the quake was 10km deep near Mansfield in Victoria’s east at 9.15am on Wednesday morning, according to Geoscience Australia. 

‘It can be a very, very disturbing event for an earthquake of this nature,’ the Prime Minister said in a press conference on Wednesday morning AEST.

‘They are very rare events in Australia and as a result, I am sure people would have been quite distressed and disturbed by that particularly in the most immediate areas affected.’ 

Scott Morrison has held a press conference from Washington to provide an update on the 5.8 earthquake that rocked Melbourne and regional Victoria on Wednesday

Mr Morrison said he’d been in contact with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, saying it was ‘good news’ there have been no reports of serious injuries.

‘But, of course, these are early reports and I remain concerned and I’ve asked the Deputy Prime Minister to keep me informed of developments,’ he said.  

Emergency Management Australia will be liaising with state authorities to provide care to anyone in need in the wake of the earthquake.

The earthquake is the biggest Victoria has experienced since European settlement  in 1834.

Damage to the exterior of Betty's Burgers on Chapel Street in Windsor following an earthquake

Damage to the exterior of Betty’s Burgers on Chapel Street in Windsor following an earthquake 

Pictures have emerged of a Betty's Burgers restaurant partially collapsed on Chapel St in Melbourne's inner-city after a magnitude 6 earthquake

Pictures have emerged of a Betty’s Burgers restaurant partially collapsed on Chapel St in Melbourne’s inner-city after a magnitude 6 earthquake

A Betty’s Burgers restaurant on Chapel St was left partially collapsed from the quake which was followed by a 4.0 magnitude aftershock 18 minutes later. 

Office and apartment blocks across Melbourne were evacuated but there are so far no reports of any injuries.

Mr Morrison also finally addressed the violent protests carried out in Melbourne this week by disgruntled construction workers – after days of silence on the matter.

‘My message is very straightforward and that is none of us are above the law,’ he said.

‘The events in Melbourne of the protests are very concerning and that is unacceptable behaviour and particularly at a time when those in Victoria are dealing with lock downs and many other stresses.

‘We will get through this but protest activity and what we have seen there is highly distressing and that is not an appropriate response to try to deal with an outbreak of this nature.’

His comments follow two days of wild demonstrations carried out by workers protesting against vaccine mandates for tradies.

Protests took an ugly turn in Melbourne on Monday, prompting Premier Andrews to shut down the construction industry for two weeks.

Hundreds of protestors - many wearing hi-vis - marched towards state parliament to rally against mandatory vaccine orders on Tuesday

Hundreds of protestors – many wearing hi-vis – marched towards state parliament to rally against mandatory vaccine orders on Tuesday

The building of union CFMEU was targeted with protesters hurling bottles and smashing windows.

About 2,000 tradesmen and anti-vaccination and freedom campaigners rampaged through the city for ten hours on Tuesday with more turning out on Wednesday.

Police – who were caught short by the hastily organised protest – said 62 people were arrested on Tuesday after footage showed violent thugs attacking police by throwing cans or punching them in the street.

Mr Morrison has earlier been criticised for his slow response to emergencies unfolding in Australia.

During the devastating 2019/2020 bushfires, the prime minister was condemned for holidaying in Hawaii at a time his country was in distress.  

Footage shows police officers handcuffing at least one male and two female demonstrators on Wednesday morning

Footage shows police officers handcuffing at least one male and two female demonstrators on Wednesday morning

Protests started on Monday over new COVID-19 vaccine requirements for construction workers but turned into larger and at times violent demonstration. Pictured: An arrest on Wednesday

Protests started on Monday over new COVID-19 vaccine requirements for construction workers but turned into larger and at times violent demonstration. Pictured: An arrest on Wednesday

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