- Construction workers staged protest against Covid-19 restrictions in Melbourne
- Workers blocked Lonsdale Street with plastic chairs and tables on smoke break
- Similar protests erupted in Brunswick, Coburg, Kew, Parkville and Richmond
- Government spokesperson warned further restrictions could be enforced
By Eliza Mcphee and Aidan Wondracz For Daily Mail Australia
Published: 22:58 AEST, 17 September 2021 | Updated: 00:47 AEST, 18 September 2021
The Victorian government has threatened to shut down the construction industry altogether following an ‘unacceptable’ protest held by workers across Melbourne.
Further restrictions could be enforced upon those in the sector after the demonstrations stopped traffic around the city’s streets on Friday.
Tradies were protesting against the state’s hefty new Covid-19 mandates for the industry, which will require them to show proof they’ve had their first vaccine shot.
Tea rooms will also be forced to shut and travel between Melbourne and the regions for work will be banned.
Dozens of workers dressed in hi-vis set up plastic chairs and tables while they took a smoke break along Lonsdale Street on Friday.
The flash protest forced the cancellation of trams on nearby Spencer Street sparking commuter chaos.
Similar demonstrations also occurred in Brunswick, Coburg, Kew, Parkville and Richmond.
In the wake of the rallies, the government has urged tradies to reconsider their behaviour if they want to keep working.