Unions and politicians blame far-right and anti-vaccination groups for violence after protesters blocked the West Gate Freeway

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Protests in Melbourne over two days that again turned violent on Tuesday afternoon began with construction workers rejecting vaccine mandates, but were then boosted by anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination groups on social media, experts have said.

A small group of protesters gathered outside the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) headquarters on Monday to protest against vaccine mandates, and it is understood that numbers rose after anti-lockdown Telegram groups put the call out.