What’s behind Melbourne’s anti-lockdown protests

Protests started last week after Victoria’s government first mandated COVID-19 vaccines for construction workers, and then shut the building industry down for two weeks. What started with large numbers of construction workers has been largely subsumed by anti-vaccination and anti-lockdown activists. And online groups are filled with messages espousing right-wing, extremist rhetoric. The decision to use the shrine to protest against mandatory vaccinations and COVID-19 lockdowns outraged veterans and many in the community.

Their own information universe

However, many protesters and their supporters do not see it that way. That is because they are in their own information universe.Through social media, app messaging groups and online livestreams, they have had a very different experience of this week’s protests. In that world, they saw police actions this week as close to outright tyranny. The legitimate right of protest has been squelched, they say, and people are being forced to live in a society divided between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated. 

Protesters say their views are being silenced. However, these views are represented in the so-called mainstream media, but carefully and with context. So they avoid mainstream media and turn to livestreams when protests are taking place.

Groups coalescing around protests

Rukshan Fernando broadcasts a stream that typically attracts tens of thousands of viewers. He sees himself as a chronicler, but he does broadcast far-right posts and tweets and has a large, far-right following.This week, when protesters were scrambling to evade police and assemble in Melbourne’s CBD, many turned to Mr Fernando’s livestream to see what was happening. But it is apparent from the comments that scroll in his livestream that not all of those watching are in Australia. Many appear to be located in the US and the UK.Although there are many who rely exclusively on his and other similar content, he himself does not believe that is healthy.

“I always tell people, my audience … they shouldn’t look at me, or anyone, as a single source of truth. They should consume my content, they should consume mainstream media content, and use that to make up their mind,” he said.

Belinda Barnet, a senior lecturer in media and communication at Swinburne University, said Mr Fernando’s livestreams were not purely “raw and unfiltered, on-the-ground information”.“It is accompanied by a narration, so he’s kind of narrating the events, and he’s also choosing what to film and what not to film,” Dr Barnet said. “So, for example, in the recent riots he was quite big on filming police ostensibly being aggressive but didn’t seem to want to film the protesters being aggressive back.

Many joining protests have switched off mainstream news

Nonetheless, it’s clear Mr Fernando’s livestreams have provided a platform for several groups that have coalesced around these protests. Some of those on the streets of Melbourne were openly hostile to journalists. Others do not believe COVID-19 is really a major public health emergency. Some say the ongoing public health orders are part of an international plot. 

We’ve seen it in the US, but it’s happening here too

Many would argue that is very much being discussed on the ABC and other mainstream media outlets. But the thing is, there’s a good chance people who support these protests aren’t reading, watching or listening. They maybe, or are in their own silo. It is not just mainstream journalism they do not engage with. They are distrustful of a lot of official information, too, from governments and health officials. This is the environment in which their silo has been built, constructed of strong opinions and misinformation.

And yes, the rest of us do not get much exposure to that other world. Two closed loops, with less and less overlap. We have all seen it in America. More and more, it is happening here, too.