Police chase anti-lockdown protesters out of suburban park
Police are chasing about 100 anti-lockdown protesters who gathered at Elsternwick Park after their plans to rally in the city failed on Saturday morning.
A long line of police met the protesters in the suburban park and the crowd fled towards Elwood. Police, including several on horses were following them and have arrested at least six people.
Police met anti-lockdown protesters in Elsternwick Park on SaturdayCredit:Zach Hope
Premier Daniel Andrews said the protest was a selfish, irresponsible and unlawful act and issued this message to the protesters: "Go home and follow the rules. There is no need to protest about anything. It is not safe".
"It just doesn't make any sense. You are potentially putting the strategy at risk. No-one should be doing anything to contribute to the spread of this virus, 21 cases today, seriously. This is working. We're getting there," he said.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said it was frustrating to have misinformation spreading in the community.
Asked what he found most frustrating, he said: "That coronavirus doesn't exist and doesn't kill people".
"That is just off the scale in terms of absurdity. The idea that this illness that we know kills one in three people over the age of 80, you know, to say that it is mild or just the flu or doesn't exist at all is really offensive to everyone who has lost a loved one."
More to come
Zach is a reporter at The Age. Got a story? Email me at zach.hope@theage.com.au
Liam is The Age and Sydney Morning Herald's science reporter