Construction workers and demonstrators attend a protest against Covid-19 regulations in Melbourne, Australia, Sept. 21, 2021.
At least one protester was arrested outside the Shrine of Remembrance which was at the centre of a large protest last week over vaccine requirements for construction workers.
Victoria Police were out in force on Saturday ahead of the planned protest against the state's lockdown and newly introduced vaccine mandate for essential workers.
Law enforcement formed a barrier around the war memorial and were waiting for protesters when people started to gather around midday.
Police are reportedly taking a zero-tolerance approach and helicopters have been monitoring the situation from above.
Victoria's unprecedented vaccine mandate on essential workers was announced by Premier Daniel Andrews on Friday and will impact more than one million Victorians.
It covers a broad range of sectors including journalism, politics, cleaning, administration, athletics and farming with tens of thousands now at risk of losing their jobs.
Those who come under the new mandate must receive their first dose of the vaccine by October 15 and second dose by November 26.
The state-wide order prompted anger among those who do not wish to take the jab with protest organisers taking to Telegram to set a meeting place for Saturday's rally.
COVID-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar rebuked those attending the demonstration at his daily COVID-19 press conference.
"We get the fact that people are frustrated, we get the fact that people are upset. You're not helping yourself, you're not helping anybody," he said.
"I just think it's a really unhelpful thing to do," he continued.
"At best you're running the risk of generating more transmission, at worst you're creating, you're fuelling a bonfire that's already on fire."
Saturday's protest follows two weeks of illegal demonstrations and arrests which targeted the Victorian parliament, Shrine of Remembrance and CFMEU building.
Last week's action started after the Andrews government shut down the construction industry in Melbourne and other locked down local government areas from 11.59pm last Monday.
The construction sector is set to reopen on Tuesday with Treasurer Tim Pallas issuing a "crystal clear" warning that there is a "zero-tolerance approach to non-compliance".
It came after Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton mandated vaccinations for the construction industry and banned break and tea rooms across workplaces following COVID transmission.
All construction workers were required to show evidence to their employer that they have had a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by 11.59pm on September 23.
Saturday's protest coincides with a recording-breaking 1,488 COVID-19 cases on Saturday and two new deaths.
Comment: RT has collected Tweets documenting the recent wave of protests, with more than 100 arrested: