Around 700 people took part in Saturday's demonstration against coronary restrictions in Australia's second largest city Melbourne.

This is despite the current closure, which means that the demonstration constituted an illegal crowd.

- What we saw today was a group of demonstrators who gathered, not to demonstrate for freedom, but simply to quarrel and fight with the police, says police chief Mark Galliott.

2000 police had been deployed with the aim of preventing the protesters from reaching the central parts of the city.

Sixth shutdown

Melbourne is in its sixth shutdown since the start of the pandemic.

In total, more than 500 cases of covid-19 were reported in the state of Victoria on Saturday.

A similar demonstration was planned in the country's largest city Sydney in New South Wales, but it is said to have been averted by police.

32 people were arrested there, according to the news agency AFP.

According to the authorities, most of the restrictions imposed in Victoria, New South Wales and the capital Canberra will continue to apply until at least 70% of the population, aged 16 and over, have been vaccinated.