Hundreds of demonstrators in Melbourne, for the second day, marched in the street to protest against Australia’s mandatory coronavirus vaccine rules in the construction industry.

The protest Tuesday in Melbourne was aimed at a Victoria state government mandate requiring all construction workers to get vaccinated. It requires each employee to show proof of at least one dose by Thursday.

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After the government closed down tearooms at work sites, several workers took their lunch breaks outside on Friday. Setting up tables and plastic chairs in multiple intersections in central Melbourne, they blocked roads and held up traffic.

It came a day after riot police were called in to disperse about 500 protesters who smashed the door at the offices of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union, which represents construction workers.

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The police, as per BBC reports, allegedly used rubber bullets and pepper spray to disperse crowds. The report adds that the headquarters building was damaged and “several people” were arrested in the process.

On Monday night, the state government announced that the construction industry would be shut down from Tuesday for two weeks in metropolitan Melbourne and some regional areas.

Officials say all worksites will need to demonstrate compliance with health directions prior to reopening, including that staff have had at least one dose of a vaccine before they return to work on October 5. Angry protesters threw bottles and smashed loudspeakers, according to local media reports.

About 13% of the state’s active COVID-19 cases are linked to construction sites, according to local media.

The union later issued a statement condemning the violence.

“This crowd was heavily infiltrated by neo-Nazis and other right wing extremist groups and it is clear that a minority of those who participated were actual union members,” the statement said.

Only last month, Australia saw hundreds 

of anti-lockdown protestors flooding the streets of Sydney. The protest had prompted the Australian police to make hundreds of arrests. The clash between the police and protestors also saw seven officers getting hurt and were hospitalised.

With inputs from the Associated Press