The Project host points out tradies forced to get Covid vaccination when politicians do not

Hosts of The Project say it’s ‘hypocritical’ for politicians to mandate Covid-19 vaccinations for construction workers but not for themselves.

While Melbourne’s streets were quiet on Thursday, the city has been in the grips of chaotic protests all week as thousands of angry protesters held demonstrations across the CBD to oppose jab requirements on job sites.

The mob has been condemned by the government and large sections of the community for violently clashing with police and for using the city’s sacred war memorial to hold a rally.

But TV presenter Kate Langbroek said much of the anger stems from there being different rules for different groups of workers.

Hosts of The Project say it’s ‘hypocritical’ for politicians to mandate Covid-19 vaccinations for construction workers but not for themselves (pictured, protesters surrender at the Shrine of Remembrance on Wednesday)

While Melbourne's streets were quiet on Thursday, the city has been in the grips of chaotic protests all week as thousands of angry tradies held demonstrations across the CBD to oppose jab requirements on job sites (pictured, police at the at the Shrine of Remembrance)

While Melbourne’s streets were quiet on Thursday, the city has been in the grips of chaotic protests all week as thousands of angry tradies held demonstrations across the CBD to oppose jab requirements on job sites (pictured, police at the at the Shrine of Remembrance)

Poll

SHOULD TRADIES HAVE TO BE VACCINATED?

  • Yes – we all need to do our bit 1 votes
  • No – it should be their choice 2 votes

‘They know they are being mandated something that the politicians who are mandating it, are not mandating for themselves,’ the Channel Ten star said.

‘That’s going to make anyone angry, isn’t it?’

Fellow host Waleed Aly added that Monday’s crowd made up of about 80 to 90 per cent construction workers was vastly different to the protesters over the next two days.

The unruly mob descended on the head office of their own union – the CFMEU – smashing up the front of the building and hurling projectiles.

‘The character of it changed and listening to the journalists who were there and following it, it turned into this thing that was very focused on the far right, anti-vaxxers and all that stuff,’ he said.

‘But do we know enough or have talked enough about what it is that construction workers, those who were there on Monday, are actually upset about?’

Of the state’s more than 6,600 active Covid cases, over 400 are directly linked to 186 construction sites – with health officials fearing the industry is not taking the deadly virus seriously.

Dan Andrews' (pictured) mandatory jab requirement for constructions sites has met significant push back from the industry

Dan Andrews’ (pictured) mandatory jab requirement for constructions sites has met significant push back from the industry

Fellow host Waleed Aly added that Monday's crowd made up of about 80 to 90 per cent construction workers were vastly different to the protesters over the next two days (pictured, Protesters at the Shrine of Remembrance on Wednesday)

Fellow host Waleed Aly added that Monday’s crowd made up of about 80 to 90 per cent construction workers were vastly different to the protesters over the next two days (pictured, Protesters at the Shrine of Remembrance on Wednesday)

Of the state's more than 6,600 active Covid cases, over 400 are directly linked to 186 construction sites - with health officials fearing the industry is not taking the deadly virus seriously (pictured, protesters at the Shrine of Remembrance)

Of the state’s more than 6,600 active Covid cases, over 400 are directly linked to 186 construction sites – with health officials fearing the industry is not taking the deadly virus seriously (pictured, protesters at the Shrine of Remembrance)

Despite the alarming statistic, the issue of mandatory vaccinations imposed by Premier Dan Andrews’ government to keep workers safe from the deadly virus has come up against huge push-back within the building sector – more than any other industry.

But Aly pointed out there hasn’t been the same level of outrage from construction workers north of the Murray River where the ‘onus is on individuals’.

‘What I found interesting is that… NSW didn’t go for mandatory vaccination,’ he said. 

‘They have this policy saying if you have an unvaccinated worker on site you can only operate at 50 per cent.

‘That is really interesting because it meant if you are unvaccinated, you have a choice, you are not getting fired but you have to get to work and look your mates in the eye and say, “well here is why I will not do that”, even though I know it is meaning I am costing work to my mates.

These rules will be changing on Monday to open up construction sites in NSW to 100 per capacity, with only those from the LGAs of concern needing to be vaccinated.

This is because in NSW, the construction industry has been largely supportive of vaccines, with the CFMEU organising a special vaccination day for its industry at Homebush.

But Aly (pictured on the Project) pointed out there hasn't been the same level of outrage from construction workers north of the Murray River where the 'onus is on individuals'

But Aly (pictured on the Project) pointed out there hasn’t been the same level of outrage from construction workers north of the Murray River where the ‘onus is on individuals’

Kate Langbroek said: 'They know they are being mandated something that the politicians who are mandating it, are not mandating for themselves'

Kate Langbroek said: ‘They know they are being mandated something that the politicians who are mandating it, are not mandating for themselves’

‘You are confronted with your decision and it having an effect on someone else.’  

Melbourne’s wild demonstrations come as Victoria recorded its highest number of daily cases since the the pandemic began with 766 new infections and four deaths.

Thursday also marked another grim milestone with Melbourne shattering the world record for the longest accumulative time under stay-at-home orders with a staggering 235 days. 

So far 45.2 per cent of Victorians are fully vaccinated, with about 74 per cent receiving their first dose.

Police opened fire at protests with rubber bullets after being pelted with rocks and bottles at Wednesday's demonstration

Police opened fire at protests with rubber bullets after being pelted with rocks and bottles at Wednesday’s demonstration

WHY VACCINES ARE IMPORTANT

Immunisation is a simple, safe and effective way of protecting people against harmful diseases before they come into contact with them.

Immunisation not only protects individuals, but also others in the community, by reducing the spread of preventable diseases.

Research and testing is an essential part of developing safe and effective vaccines.

In Australia, vaccines must pass strict safety testing before the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will register them for use. Approval of vaccines can take up to 10 years.

Before vaccines become available to the public, large clinical trials test them on thousands of people.

High-quality studies over many years have compared the health of large numbers of vaccinated and unvaccinated children. Medical information from nearly 1.5 million children around the world have confirmed that vaccination does not cause autism.

People first became concerned about autism and immunisation after the medical journal The Lancet published a paper in 1998. This paper claimed there was a link between the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism. Since then, scientists have completely discredited this paper. The Lancet withdrew it in 2010 and printed an apology. The UK’s General Medical Council struck the author off the medical register for misconduct and dishonesty.

Source: Australian Department of Health 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk