Update:Victorian Government will shut the construction industry 2 wks/ Earthquake today

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Sky News Australia
@SkyNewsAust

The Victorian Government will shut the construction industry for two weeks describing "non compliance" at work sites and "appalling behaviour" from the rally on Monday that saw union members, tradies and police clash on Melbourne streets.

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The Victorian construction industry will be shut down for two weeks, in what has been described as a "rest", following the protests over mandatory vaccination on Monday.

Work sites across Melbourne, Ballarat, Geelong, Mitchell Shire and the Surf Coast were closed from midnight on Monday in a bid to slow COVID-19 transmission, reduce movement and allow time for the industry to adapt to new changes.

There will be minimal tradies permitted on sites for safety with only some projects given an exemption to continue work.

Discussions went well into the night, with more details to be provided during Tuesday's COVID-19 press conference.

State Treasurer Tim Pallas confirmed the news about two hours before the shutdown came into force, citing "multiple outbreaks linked to work sites" and non-compliance within the sector.

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“We’ve been clear: if you don’t follow the rules, we won’t hesitate to take action – we have seen widespread noncompliance across the industry and that’s why we’re taking necessary steps to protect every single Victorian," he said.

“We put the industry on notice just a week ago, we have seen appalling behaviour on site and on our streets, and now we’re acting decisively and without hesitation.”

The government will work with the industry in the coming weeks to make sure workplaces are COVID-safe and to ensure workers have had at least one COVID-19 vaccine.

The closure is estimated to cost the industry $455 million a day with the two-week shut down meaning the sector will lose $6.3 billion in revenue

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Last week, Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton mandated vaccinations for the construction industry and banned break and tea rooms across workplaces following multiple cases of transmission.

Tradies protested over the tea rooms on Friday by setting up tables and chairs across tram lines and eating their breakfast and lunch.

They have been angry about the vaccination mandate, believing their union have not supported workers who do not want to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

Tensions reached boiling point on Monday with hundreds of members from the construction industry flocking to rally outside the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) offices in Melbourne.

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TheLastRefuge
@TheLastRefuge2
24 hrs after Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews shuts down the *construction* industry to punish protesting trade union workers, Melbourne gets hit by an earthquake.

Tell me God isn't on the side of freedom!

"Good luck dealing w/ impact without construction workers." - GOD

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