More than $1.1 million in fines will be handed down after six police officers were hospitalised and 218 people were arrested during a massive anti-lockdown rally in Melbourne.
Victoria Police said more than 4000 people converged on the city today in protest of the extension of the state's COVID-19 lockdown.
Police arrested 218 people, issued 236 fines and have three people in custody for allegedly assaulting police.
Every arrested protestor will be fined $5452 for breaching Chief Health Officer directions, meaning the arrest fines alone tally $1,188,536.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said "the majority of those who attended came with violence in mind".
READ MORE: Hundreds fined over Sydney lockdown protest
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"The behaviour seen by police was so hostile and aggressive that they were left with no choice but to use all tactics available to them," the spokeswoman said.
"For the first time during lockdown protests, police were forced to use a range of non-lethal options including pepper ball rounds and OC foam cannisters in an effort to disperse the crowd.
"Seven police officers were injured, including two with suspected broken noses, one with a broken thumb and the others with concussions.
"One officer was also treated at the scene for a cut to his neck that didn't require hospitalisation."
Hordes of protesters had gathered around Elizabeth and Lonsdale streets in the CBD with Transdev warning services were delayed due to the planned event.
Thousands of armed and mounted police marched towards demonstrators in full force, making multiple arrests as they moved in on the rally.
READ MORE: Statewide lockdown for Victoria from 1pm
Earlier, at a press conference announcing the expansion of the lockdown into regional Victoria, Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police Shane Patton slammed plans for the protest.
"It's tagged as a freedom demonstration, it's anything but," he said.
"It's just selfish."
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He said encrypted communications involved in the organisation of the event made it difficult to know how many people would join.
He warned anybody who attended and was intercepted by police would face a massive fine.
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Premier Daniel Andrews warned that if people ignored lockdown restrictions this weekend "well then next week it will be like Sydney", where cases have boomed to hundreds of new infections every day.
"Protesting does not work against this virus," he said.
A similar gathering occurred in Sydney at midday, with multiple arrests and violent scenes, but was disbanded by police just after 2pm.
Brisbane anti-lockdown protests also saw thousands in attendance but authorities have deemed this one a more peaceful gathering.
READ MORE: Police flood Sydney CBD amid protest warning
