Melburnians flooded the streets on Saturday with some protesting against a range of COVID-19 measures, including the state's pandemic bill, and counter-protesters taking a stand against what they described as an expansion of the far-right.
It comes as the state recorded 1,166 new cases of COVID-19 and five deaths, with a becoming Australia's youngest person to die with the virus.
Those protesting against the pandemic legislation and vaccination mandates chanted "sack Dan Andrews" and "kill the bill" as they marched down the streets of central Melbourne.
People participate in 'The Worldwide Rally for Freedom' protest against in Melbourne, Saturday, 20 November, 2021. Source: AAP
In the crowd, there were various signs that referred to the baseless QAnon conspiracy and Trump flags waved by protesters.
A counter-protest organised by the Campaign Against Racism and Fascism was held at the same time, with the group pledging to "push back against the growth of the far-right" in the city.
"Anti-vaxxers you can't hide, you've got Nazis on your side," the group of counter-protesters chanted as they made their way through the city.
Counter-protesters then headed to Melbourne's Park Hotel where asylum seekers and refugees are currently detained by the Australian government in what they called an expression of solidarity.
Victoria Police made one arrest with a spokesperson saying the protest was peaceful "despite significant numbers in attendance".
The protests in Melbourne come as the Victorian government continues negotiations with crossbenchers to pass its pandemic legislation, after days of protests on parliament's front steps.
Those in support of vaccination held protests in Melbourne to counter anti-vaccination protesters with the former wearing masks. Source: AAP
With almost all remaining COVID-19 restrictions lifted just before midnight on Friday, Victoria has now surpassed the 90 per cent double-dose vaccination milestone in those aged over 12.
As of Saturday, 93.4 per cent of Victorians aged 12 and over have now had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 89 per cent have had two doses.
The so-called "worldwide freedom rally" saw protesters turn up in cities across Australia, including in Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin spruiking anti-vaccination messages.
Craig Kelly, leader of the United Australia Party, made a speech at the rally in Sydney where he was met with chants of “Kelly, Kelly, Kelly”.
“When we have governments that adopt vaccine passports we’re are no longer free. We don’t live in a free society, we live in a prison camp," the former Liberal politician told the crowd.
NSW Police made no arrests in Sydney where they said up to 10,000 people attended a protest in CBD and another 120 gathered at a protest in Newtown.
"Overall, the protests were conducted peacefully with minimal disruption to the community, and I’m pleased to see that the vast majority of people complied with police directions," Assistant Commissioner Peter Thurtell said.
Protesters also gathered in Brisbane as the state reported no new cases of COVID-19.
Tension was ignited at the rally after a man in the crowd chanted "hang the b***h" when a speaker asked protesters how they felt about premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
Not long after, the speaker asked a man with a noose to get rid of it, saying "we don't want that cr** here" and reiterating that it was a peaceful protest.
It comes after Queensland MP Brittany Lauga contacted police after she and other members of state parliament received an email with "threats of terrorism, extremism and violence".
"I understand local doctors have been sent death threats and other threatening letters," she wrote on Twitter.
"I unequivocally condemn these threats of violence, terrorism and extremism. This is not peaceful protest."
People are seen during a demonstration outside the Victorian State Parliament in Melbourne, Tuesday, November 16, 2021. Source: AAP/Joel Carrett
Condemnation of threats of violence from anti-vaccination protesters in Melbourne has grown since the anti-vaccination protests in Melbourne last weekend.
A video emerged on social media that showed protesters gathered around gallows chanting "kill Dan Andrews" and "hang Dan Andrews" while attempting to place the head of an inflatable doll of the premier through a noose.
Mr Andrews told reporters that despite his family and himself receiving threats, he will not be "deterred from the work I'm doing to keep every family safe".
"I wouldn't want the appalling, the disgusting and the potentially criminal behaviour of a small number of people to detract away from the amazing job that so many Victorians have done," he said.
"It is so unfair for a small, ugly mob to be taking attention away from the more than 90 per cent of Victorians who have had a first dose and will soon have had a second dose."
On Friday, key Victorian crossbench MP Andy Meddick revealed his daughter Kielan had allegedly been attacked on a Fitzroy street the previous evening and had suffered a head injury after being confronted by an unknown man over the spray painting of an anti-vax poster.
The incident drew condemnation from Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.
Additional reporting: AAP
