This is the moment thousands of Australians protested against the Covid-19 lockdown in Melbourne.

Footage shows protesters carrying picket signs, chanting and booing as they marched on Swanston Street on August 21. The protest later turned violent when the crowd charged at police lines and hurled objects at police officers. Authorities used pellets and pepper spray to disperse the mob.

Anti-lockdown demonstrations were also held in the cities of Brisbane and Sydney on the same day, as Australians chafe at prolonged restrictions to contain the third wave of record-breaking Covid-19 infections.

A nightly curfew has been placed in Sydney, Australia’s biggest city, since Monday August 23. Meanwhile, Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews has placed the entire state under lockdown after 17 new infections were recorded in Shepparton City.

Australian premier Scott Morison has defended the stringent measures, vowing to enforce them until at least 70 per cent of the population has been vaccinated.

He said: ‘You can’t live with lockdowns forever and at some point, you need to make that gear change and that is done at 70 percent.’