Premier criticises union protest at Hawthorn East worksite
The Premier has criticised hundreds of union protesters who gathered outside a construction site in Melbourne's inner east for forgoing social distancing guidelines.
About 250 CFMMEU members gathered on Wednesday morning at a building site on Toorak Road in Hawthorn East a day after two union officials were allegedly assaulted during a visit.
Hundreds of CFMMEU workers protesting outside a building site on Wednesday morning. Credit:Penny Stephens
However, CFMMEU Victorian state secretary John Setka said that once they realised how many people were turning up they called the protest off mid-morning and asked the crowd to disperse.
"In regards to the incident that's happened, emotions run high. We didn't know how many were going to roll up or there was going to be that many people," he told radio station 3AW.
"When we discovered it was getting bigger and bigger ... the police had a discussion with our officials.
"I had a few telephone calls and I said if it's going to get out of hand, if we are going to have too many people there, it's in stark contrast to what we are doing on building sites and we are not going to be hypocrites.
Police at the building site on Wednesday morning. Credit:Penny Stephens
"We don't want to be the ones that lead to a cluster so we sort of called it off and left ten people there with the appropriate distancing," he said.
On Tuesday morning, a union official was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries to his upper body, while a second did not need to go to hospital following the alleged attack.
Police, who have not yet charged anyone over the alleged assault, remained at the site throughout Tuesday to ensure public order after dozens of union members turned up at the site.
They helped to escort workers off the site and by 4pm all parties had dispersed.
Hundreds of union members gathered again on Wednesday morning, with police returning to the site to ensure public safety.
The protest comes after two union officials were allegedly assaulted at the site on Tuesday morning. Credit:Penny Stephens
Premier Daniel Andrews said the protest could "potentially spread the virus".
"I want to be very clear that no gathering that size is appropriate no matter what the cause, no matter what the issue, no matter what the reason, because all those sorts of gatherings do is potentially spread that virus so police and public health officials will deal with that matter," he told radio station 3AW.
"But I just urge anyone, there's ways to make your point, there are ways to be heard. Spreading the virus is in no one's interest, no one".
Police Minister Lisa Neville told the radio station she understood that police would fine those not abiding by the rules unless they cooperated with social distancing guidelines.
The left lane of Toorak Road was closed in both directions between Auburn Road and Tooronga Road, and the speed limit decreased to 40km/h.
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