A pair of tradies railing against Covid jabs requirements on work sites have been caught snorting drugs as Melbourne’s streets descended into chaos.
Violent protests erupted on Tuesday with thousands of angry construction workers aimlessly marching around the CBD to oppose Victoria’s vaccination mandate.
But in the midst of the wild scenes, which saw demonstrators ambush riot cops, smash police cars and assault a Channel 7 reporter by throwing urine on him – two hi-vis-wearing men were also filmed taking a break from the action to snort a substance from a small bag.
The irony of anti-vaxxers stopping to snort mysterious powder (pictured) while protesting against life-saving Covid vaccines was not lost on Twitter users who ruthlessly mocked the duo
The viral social media footage was captured by a person recording from their windowsill with the caption ‘priorities’.
The two tradies in baseball caps, hoodies and hi-vis work vests are seen glancing over their shoulder in the secluded alley to check no one is watching before one of the men reaches out and offers the other a ‘bump’.
He then takes a scoop from the bag and ingests the substance himself.
The irony of anti-vaxxers stopping to snort mysterious powder while protesting against life-saving Covid vaccines was not lost on Twitter users who ruthlessly mocked the duo.
‘But yet they don’t wanna get a vaccine, lol,’ one person commented.
Another wrote: ‘Either cocaine or sniffing each other’s fingers.’
Thousands of angry tradies gathered in Melbourne to protest mandatory Covid jabs for a second day on Tuesday
Police fired rubber bullets at demonstrators with violent clashed breaking out across Melbourne
The mob even scaled the West Gate Bridge sending Melbourne traffic in to chaos
Others called them: ‘Man babies’ and said ‘Geesuz any wonder they’re off their nuts!’
One user joked that ‘maybe it’s Ivermectin?’ referring to the untested Covid-19 treatment which has become popular among anti-vaxxer conspiracy theorists.
‘I think their employer would be very interested to see this,’ Another said.
‘Time to ensure there is drug testing a wee bit more frequently on the site.’
For a second day running violent clashes broke out when anti-vax protesters took to the streets.
The rowdy mob ambushed riot cops and smashed up police squad cars with footage showing tradesmen in hi-vis clothing kicking police cars and attempting to tear off their side mirrors outside Victoria’s Parliament House.
Riot police were then seen advancing in formation on the rioters before firing tear gas, stinger grenades and rubber bullets.
Violent protests erupted on Tuesday with thousands of angry construction workers aimlessly marching around the CBD to oppose Victoria’s vaccination mandate
Anti-vax protesters in Melbourne are seen blocking off the street by kneeling on the road
Police chief Shane Patton said three officers have been injured during the clashes and and 44 have been arrested, but that number is expected to rise dramatically.
Although more than 500 police have been deployed with the assistance of police air wing helicopters, he says it has ‘really challenging for us’ because of ‘spontaneity and tactics they employed throughout the day’.
The rudderless mob of about 2000 demonstrators marched aimlessly around the CBD for hours, even scaling the West Gate Bridge in the afternoon shutting down traffic throughout the city.
‘Currently, this unlawful gathering is still unfolding and we’re making arrests at this moment,’ Police Chief Patton said.
‘We will stop this protest. We will hold those responsible to account. The message is clear. You cannot come in and break the law.’
Riot police officers form a wall as they wait for protesting construction workers on the West Gate Bridge on Tuesday afternoon
Demonstrators sung Advance Australia Fair and chanted ‘f*** the jab’ in protest against mandatory vaccination orders and Premier Daniel Andrews’ decision to shut the industry down for two weeks amid rising case numbers
Premier Andrews backed up the state’s top cop saying there is ‘no excuse for the terrible behaviour we have seen in our city over the last two days’.
‘We know vaccinations are our only ticket out of this pandemic. There is no other way,’ he said.
‘For those who think violence is the answer, I ask that you think of your fellow Victorians – doing the right thing over many months, following the advice of our health experts.’
The embattled state leader pleaded with protesters to ‘spare a thought for our healthcare workers who are working such long hours looking after patients, many who are struggling to breathe.’
‘The more of us who get vaccinated, the fewer of us who will end up in hospital,’ he said. It’s as simple as that.’
A Channel 7 TV reporter was earlier assaulted by a protester and had bags filled with urine thrown at him. The demonstrators then blocked the West Gate Bridge – a major freeway into the city – bringing traffic to a standstill at peak hour.
Demonstrators sung Advance Australia Fair and chanted ‘f*** the jab’ in protest against mandatory vaccination orders and Premier Daniel Andrews’ decision to shut the industry down for two weeks amid rising case numbers.
The protest began outside the boarded up head office of the construction union, the CFMEU, which was badly damaged by violent demonstrations just 24 hours earlier.
More than 100 police officers walked up Swanston Street in pursuit of the crowd, with officers warning demonstrators on a loudspeaker to turn back.
‘Attention, this is a police public order warning. You have previously been directed to leave,’ an officer inside a line of riot police and officers on horseback told the crowd.
‘Leave now or force may be used. No further warnings will be given.’
A protester is seen with a can of alcohol in one hand and a flair in another as the rally turned violent
Police say up to 2000 demonstrators took to the streets during Tuesday’s rally in Melbourne
Riot police were then seen advancing in formation on the rioters before firing tear gas, stinger grenades and rubber bullets
By 2.30pm the protest had reached the West Gate Bridge with demonstrators bringing traffic to a standstill before breaking out into a rendition of 90s hit The Horses by Daryl Braithwaite as they marched across the bridge.
One vocal protester was heard shouting ‘this is our bridge’ as demonstrators threw a ladder across the road to block traffic.
Traffic heading inbound towards Melbourne was backed up for 6km as hundreds of cars and trucks tried to leave the freeway at Williamstown Road where police had formed a blockade.
In chaotic scenes, a person riding a motorcycle was seen tearing up and down the highway on the wrong side of the road on one wheel before making an escape down a exit ramp.
The mood in the crowd was dark, a Croatian man having earlier taken his own life at a building site in West Melbourne hours after the Premier’s shut down was announced.
The worker is believed to have died by suicide at the Crema Construction site near Roden Street, with the company declining to comment.
About 500 police officers were deployed to the out-of-control demonstration on Tuesday
Tensions boiled over about 11am with protesters lighting flares and a bottle being tossed towards police.
The angry crowd also turned their attention to television reporters, with a group of protesters physically attacking veteran journalist Paul Dowsley.
The Seven News reporter, who was also doused with urine during the chaos, was reporting from the scene when he was attacked by one demonstrator who grabbed him around the throat.
The veteran newsman though continued to report while people continued to threaten him.
‘There are people with a real message about the vaccine and their health concerns and there are some that seem hellbent on causing trouble,’ he said during a live cross from the rally.
‘I’m not a fighter, I’ve never thrown a punch in my life.. [a protester] singled me out without knowing anything about me.
‘My colleague and I are now covered in what I understand to be urine.’
The rally comes as Victoria recorded 603 new cases on Tuesday, the highest daily tally in the current outbreak and since August 2020, bringing the number of active cases to 6,000
One of the angry demonstrators is seen with a flair as thousands march aimlessly around Melbourne’s CBD
Daily Mail Australia also saw a large crowd of tradesmen from the protest buying bags of alcohol at a Woolworths on Exhibition Street.
It comes as Victoria recorded 603 new cases on Tuesday, the highest daily tally in the current outbreak and since August 2020, bringing the number of active cases to 6,000.
The protesters started moving back towards CFMEU headquarters at about 1pm, where demonstrators were seen throwing glass bottles and flares at police officers.
The Melbourne protesters are also using encrypted platform Telegram to call for an end to lockdowns, mandatory mask orders and the immediate reopening of the construction industry.
Three of the demands called for Victoria’s leading figureheads in its pandemic response to stand down – Premier Daniel Andrews, Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton and Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton.
The Melbourne protesters are also using encrypted platform Telegram to call for an end to lockdowns, mandatory mask orders and the immediate reopening of the construction industry
Protesters also called for a royal commission into the government’s response to the pandemic and for officers they claim ‘assaulted peaceful protesters’ to be charged.
Their final demand was for the ‘mass distribution of invermectin, Vitamins C, D and Zinc’ as alternative treatments for Covid-19.
Invermectin, a horse tranquiliser used to treat parasitic infections, has not been proven to be effective in treating the virus.
CFMEU boss John Setka earlier blasted ‘fake tradies’ and ‘man-baby Nazis’ who sparked Monday’s violent scenes outside union headquarters – prompting Daniel Andrews to shut down the entire industry for two weeks.
The state’s health minister Martin Foley said hundreds of cases have been recorded across 186 construction sites.