Anti-Lockdown Protestors In Melbourne Clash With Police

A group of people protesting the five-day Stage 4 lockdown in Melbourne have clashed with police.

The anti-lockdown rally gathered at Oakleigh's main shopping strip and refused to wear masks.

The organisers belong to Reignite Democracy Australia, an anti-mask organisation who claim the stay at home orders were killing more people than they're saving.

Vision captured by Channel 9 shows one person bizarrely yet proudly showing a raft of flags from Australia to the UK and even Gadsden and America.

One person who was arrested by two police officers started screaming that he had a fundamental right to be where he was and that he was sticking to the rules.

He claimed he was within five kilometres of his home and that he was 'exercising'.

Instead of labelling the demonstration as a rally or a protest, the people who gathered yesterday (February 15) said it was a mission to support local businesses that would be affected during the lockdown.

Demonstrator Stephen Booth told people to defy the lockdown orders and even said everyone should leave their homes and 'kiss your nanna on the lips'.

Victorians were told last Friday (February 12) that they would be put on a circuit breaker lockdown to combat a coronavirus outbreak at the Melbourne Airport Holiday Inn.

The outbreak is believed to have started with a family of three who stayed in the hotel, but hundreds of people were put on alert after being considered close contacts.

Some of those cases have been infected with the highly contagious UK strain of the coronavirus and authorities are worried it is 'significantly more infectious' than the original virus.

The Stage 4 restrictions mean people can only allowed to leave your home for four reasons: groceries, medical care, exercise and giving care to people in need. Victorians have also been told to work from home if they can.

Face masks must be worn at all times, right across the state, and the rule applies both to being indoors and outdoors, but doesn't apply in your own home.

There will be no visitors allowed over to a home, but you can have two people allowed in a public gathering as long as it's exercise.

Early learning centres, childcare centres and daycare will remain open, however schools will close.

Religious gatherings have been banned and ceremonies will be allowed if they are broadcast to viewers at home. Funerals will only allow up to 10 people. Weddings will be banned unless there is an end-of-life reason behind it.

Indoor physical recreation like gyms and sport will be closed.

Yesterday, Premier Daniel Andrews couldn't be drawn on whether tomorrow (Wednesday February 17) would definitely spell the end of the lockdown.

Featured Image Credit: Channel 9

Topics: Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie