Protests Against Vaccination Mandates Lead to Site Closures and Economic Impact
In response to violent protests against Covid-19 vaccination mandates, authorities in Melbourne have decided to close all construction sites for two weeks, starting from Tuesday. The protests, which escalated into clashes between workers and union officials, came after the Victorian government mandated that all construction workers receive at least one dose of the vaccine by Friday.
Footage shared on social media showed protesters throwing bottles and crates at union representatives, resulting in a significant police response. The Victorian government’s Industrial Relations Minister, Tim Pallas, condemned the violent behaviour, stating that the government had warned the industry just a week earlier, and that the closures were a necessary and decisive action.
Police deployed crowd control units, making several arrests as the situation unfolded. The shutdowns of construction sites are expected to have a negative impact on the Australian economy, with some experts warning that the extended restrictions could lead to a second recession in two years for the country, which has a $2 trillion economy.
The shutdowns are part of broader efforts to contain the spread of the Delta variant, which has led to lockdowns in major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and the capital, Canberra. However, these measures have also sparked a series of anti-lockdown protests, which have resulted in the arrest of hundreds of individuals over the weekend.
Despite these ongoing challenges, there is some positive news on the vaccination front. Authorities in Sydney and Melbourne have started to relax certain restrictions as vaccination rates rise. Once the adult population reaches a 70-80% vaccination rate, further freedoms will be introduced. Currently, 53% of residents in New South Wales, home to Sydney, are fully vaccinated, while Victoria is at 44%.
In Victoria, Covid-19 cases surged to a record high of 603 new infections on Tuesday, surpassing the previous daily record of 567. Despite the Delta variant’s impact, Australia has managed to keep its Covid-19 cases and deaths lower than many other countries, with 87,700 cases and 1,168 deaths to date.
