Melbourne protest: Tradies are arrested on third day of anti-vax demonstrations

Several tradesmen have been arrested in Melbourne after arriving for a third day of protests against mandatory Covid vaccinations.

Footage from the CBD shows dozens of police officers handcuffing at least three male and two female demonstrators on Wednesday morning.

Another video showed around 20 riot squad officers marching swiftly through the city centre - after police vowed they would be better prepared for violence since being caught off guard on Tuesday.

Daniel Andrews has blasted violent protesters who caused chaos in Melbourne as police vowed to use new tactics to fight back with more carnage expected on Wednesday.

About 2,000 tradesmen and anti-vaccination and freedom campaigners rampaged through the city for ten hours on Tuesday to demonstrate against a two-week shutdown of the construction industry imposed due to rising Covid cases.

Police - who were caught short by the hastily organised protest - said 62 people have been arrested after footage showed violent thugs attacking police by throwing cans or punching them in the street.

Mr Andrews said the actions were an 'insult' to the majority of law-abiding tradies and said the protesters were not just builders but also far-right freedom and anti-vaxx protesters. 

'Can I say at the outset that the ugly scenes that we saw yesterday are not only appalling, they're unlawful. Victoria Police will take action against those who did the wrong thing yesterday,' Mr Andrews said in his first public appearance since the protests.

'I think there were some people there who you would say were from the building industry. 

'There were others who were not from the building industry. They're not there to protests, they're there for a fight, pretend to be protesting. They're from many different backgrounds. 

'What offends me is not only is the conduct, but in my job, over many years, I have met hundreds and thousands of builders, hundreds and thousands of tradies who build this state, whether it be removing level crossings, building hospitals and schools, all the way through to building homes, they're fine people, hardworking people, and what we saw yesterday is an insult, an insult, to the vast, vast majority of tradies or people in the building industry who are not about wrecking, they're about building,' he said.    

Mr Andrews defended his construction ban saying there were more than 350 Covid cases linked to the industry, more than in Victoria's aged care sector. 

He also said mandatory vaccination orders for the industry would not be removed. 

Ahead of more expected protests on Wednesday, Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, Shane Patton said officers would employ 'different' tactics and have more boots on the ground - but refused to reveal operational details.

'Victoria Police have planned, we have significant tactics in place, we will be agile in our response, we will be very swift in our response an conduct, as we've seen yesterday, and the previous day, will not be tolerated,' he said. 

Police sources have told Daily Mail Australia that officers are on high alert for protesters carrying weapons, with fears nail guns could be used against police.

It is understood the Australian Defence Force has also been alerted should police need back-up. 

Thousands of angry anti-vaxx protesters have vowed to march on Melbourne's streets 'every day' this week 'until demands are met' as part of a violent crusade sparked by mandatory coronavirus vaccinations on job sites. 

Their demands include the immediate end of lockdown, the mass distribution of unproven drug invermectin to treat Covid and the removal of a law requiring construction workers to be vaccinated by Friday.

The protesters have been communicating using encrypted messaging app Telegram. Police say they have no obvious leader, making discussions difficult. 

Riot cops are expected to be armed with rubber bullets, pepper balls and stinger grenades ready to take on the mob 'head on'. 

Mr Andrews' condemnation of the protesters came after he copped criticism for  'hiding' from the cameras on Tuesday, only issuing a meekly-worded statement issued later on Tuesday evening.

Tensions have been brewing for months within the construction industry with a significant contingent of workers vehemently opposed to the jab requirement.

That resentment exploded this week with hi-vis-wearing anti-vaxx demonstrators hurling projectiles at the CFMEU headquarters on Monday, before taking over the entire city on Tuesday.

A rudderless mob of up to 2,000 stormed across the CBD for more than seven hours clashing with police, lighting flares, hurling rocks and in one case even assaulting a Channel 7 news reporter by throwing urine on him.

The out-of-control group even scaled the West Gate Bridge shutting down traffic and jumping on cars as terrified bystanders including children watched on in fear from inside their surrounded vehicles.

'This was a very large and very, very angry group. Crowds like this, they're for cowards,' Chief Commissioner of Police Shane Patton said.

'Cowards who seek to hide their identity… to do other things that if they were by themselves they wouldn't have the courage to do.

'I can't imagine what it would have been like to be a citizen in your car …. how scary that would have been.'

An online poster created by rally organisers declares the 'Victorian Workers Rally for Freedom' will continue 'every day' from 10am outside the head office of the CFMEU until their 'no vaccine mandate' demand is met.

But Commissioner Patton has promised that police will be ready to unleash a range of new counter measures on Wednesday, setting the scene for a fiery showdown.

'I'm not going to disclose what our tactics will be… but they will be different,' he said.

'This is utter criminal conduct they've been involved in. You cannot come in and break the law. We will hold you to account.'