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Victorians are being warned to prepare for more aftershocks in the coming "days, if not weeks" after a 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck.

The force of the event was felt across the state and into South Australia and New South Wales.

It is the largest recorded earthquake in Victoria since such events were measured.

READ MORE: Victoria rattled by 5.9 magnitude earthquake, terrifying thousands

Few injuries were reported but at least one man, in his 70s, was hospitalised after suffering upper-body injuries when the parts of a weather shield fell down and hit him.

The Mount Eliza man was taken to Frankston Hospital in a stable condition, but experts say it could have been much worse.

Speaking from Washington DC this morning Prime Minister Scott Morrison thanked those involved in the emergency response.

"Obviously, we need to remain cautious because of the threat of aftershocks and wish those well who are going through inspecting and shoring up those properties that are affected and any damage that was there," Mr Morrison said.

"I'm pleased that … those events have ended up being less serious than first thought and we welcome that. But of course, it was an earthquake and that's a serious thing."

While the worst is expected to be over, Seismologist Tanja Pejic from Geoscience Australia said more aftershocks were extremely likely.

"Unfortunately, there will be aftershocks," Dr Pejic told Today.

"We have already recorded about seven of them. They were all smaller than the main shock. The largest aftershock we recorded was a magnitude of 4.1. I would expect that people in Victoria, closer to that epicentre, would have felt it.

"And there will certainly be more aftershocks to come for days, if not weeks. They will generally decrease in size and frequency as the time progresses."

The earthquake was recorded at around 9.15am at Licola North, near Woods Point, yesterday, 180km north-east of Melbourne.

READ MORE: 'Like a truck had crashed out front': How Melburnians reacted on social media to earthquake

It was followed by several aftershocks – the first a magnitude 5.5 tremor at 9.40am, followed by a 4.0 tremor at 9.55am and a 3.1 tremor at 10.15am.

While experts know aftershocks are a given, they can't predict when an initial earthquake will hit.

"There is no technology in this world that can tell when, where and with what magnitude an earthquake will strike," Dr Pejic said.

"We can't predict them. We can forecast from here on and say, yes, there will be aftershocks, this is normal, this is expected after an earthquake of this size, but we can't predict how large they will be or when they will happen."

READ MORE: Melbourne residents reveal terrifying moment earthquake hit

While large earthquakes are uncommon in Australia, because the continent lies centrally on a tectonic plate, yesterday's event took place in an area of "heightened" risk after being identified via a 2018 "national hazard assessment map".

"This map shows that the south-eastern highlands is an area of heightened seismic risk.

"For seismologists, it wasn't unexpected but it was rare for Australia."

The quake struck at a shallow depth of 10km and while it was large, it didn't cause major widespread damage.

READ MORE: History of Australia's most destructive earthquakes

But one of the worst affected areas was Chapel Street in Windsor, including Betty's Burgers which suffered significant structural damage.

Managing director Troy McDonagh said it could be "a number of months" before his business is back up and running.

"It was not the ideal scenario yesterday morning but we've got an amazing business and, as you well know, mate, hospitality, we're a resilient bunch," Mr McDonagh told Today.

"We regrouped yesterday and obviously once we know what's happening here and know the timeframes we'll start the rebuild process."

Stay-at-home orders due to the coronavirus pandemic are believed to have prevented any serious injuries due to the small number of people out and about.

A man will face court today, charged with the stabbing murder of a 51-year-old man inside a popular Far North Queensland shopping centre.

Police allege the 38-year-old slashed the man — a stranger — across the throat about 8am on Wednesday. The older man died about 20 minutes later.

Police locked down the centre and launched a manhunt before an arrest was made.

READ MORE: Queensland cop suspended for allegedly helping daughter without permit cross state border

The victim is believed to be a regular at the Cairns Central shopping centre who was "well known and well liked", according to locals.

They say he would often spend days sitting in the centre just reading a book.

READ MORE: Queensland mum wins $30 million in Oz Lotto draw

Police say many details are still unclear, but it appears the two men exchanged words on the ground level before the conversation turned into an argument.

The 38-year-old was due to face the Cairns Magistrates Court today.

While the iPad was not the first digital tablet, it certainly defined the market for a handheld portable computing device that was larger than your phone and could do many of the things we relied on computers for until that time.

Apple sells tens of millions of them a year, and one of the most popular among its range is the smallest, the iPad mini, which this week gets a long overdue redesign — and it's a cracker.

Because of its much smaller form factor when compared to the "standard"-sized iPad, the iPad mini is popular among business, even law enforcement — but one of its best markets is the family because the size is perfect for children's smaller hands.

IPHONE 13 REVIEW: An incremental upgrade with a stunning camera trick

All-new design

For this reason, the bulk of my review time with the all-new iPad mini was in the hands of Jackson, 14; Victoria, 11; and Harrison, 9 — my children. They're fortunate enough to have already been users of the previous iPad mini so it's the perfect test.

Immediately out of the box, you realise this really is all new. The design follows the squared look of the iPad Pro models and the more recent iPad Air redesign. It also mimics the new iPhone 12 and 13 models in many ways.

And it's about time — the previous design was nine years old, the same as when it launched at the California Theatre in San Jose.

The screen is bigger, 8.3 inches up from 7.9, and pretty much every single specification of the device is dramatically improved.

READ MORE: Apple spruiks new look iPad as 'huge leap forward'

The three key changes my kids noticed

Firstly, the iPad mini now uses a USB-C connector. This means an all-new charging infrastructure, though both the cable and wall brick come with the device. That also means the iPad mini only works with Apple Pencil second generation which magnetically attaches to the side, and pairs.

Secondly, Centre Stage. While they didn't know what it was called, they thought it was very cool that when on a FaceTime call with their mates (that's how kids keep in touch in lockdown of course), the camera would "follow" them. The ultra-wide lens and smarts of the device zoom in on you, but can pan around to follow you or zoom out if more people enter the call in your room.

Then there was the strange one: all the games they enjoy had pillar-box black lines either side of the screen. The games don't stretch to the full aspect ratio of the new iPad mini. Of course, this will be fixed quickly with software updates, but these are the things keen-eyed wanna-be tech commentators noticed.

A welcome surprise

Touch ID on the top button is a welcome surprise. I'm still gutted this wasn't included in the iPhone 13 frankly.

If you're putting a SIM card in, the new iPad mini now supports 5G, and the A15 Bionic chip powering it all is the same as the iPhone 13.

Frankly, the A15 Bionic chip means this is quite possibly the fastest tablet you can get, short of the iPad Pro which has the laptop grade Apple M1 processor.

They should have just called this the iPad Pro mini, or at least the iPad Air mini. It sticks out like a sore thumb — a good looking one — next to the new ninth generation iPad, which also launches this week and has the same classic design still, but with new improved guts.

The price

At $749, it's expensive. The iPad mini used to come with a price-tag starting with a five — or at least a low six — so this is a real jump up, but its power and performance warrant it.

The iPad mini hits stores at the end of this week, though demand looks strong with Apple's online orders already stretching out to early October deliveries.

Officers arrested more than 200 people following today's protests in Melbourne's CBD.

Protesters have swamped Melbourne's CBD for the third day, leading to police setting off tear gas after hundreds converged on Melbourne's most famous war memorial.

The crowd of up 1000 protesters finally dispersed just before 5pm, causing chaotic scenes around the Shrine of Remembrance, after a tense stand-off with police which spanned hours.

A flare was set off and explosion-like sounds were heard as protesters ran from the shrine after police deployed tear gas.

READ MORE: Protesters converge on Melbourne war memorial chanting 'lest we forget'

Many ran through traffic on a nearby road, where a car crashed into a tram in the chaos.

Police have since been patrolling the surrounding streets on a Bearcat.

Protesters were reportedly throwing items at police right before police took action.

The movement followed a tense stand-off between protesters and police after the crowd took the unrest to Melbourne's famous war memorial just after 1pm.

Police circled the hundreds of protesters after they climbed the stairs of the Shrine of Remembrance, having spent the morning walking the streets of Melbourne CBD.

LIVE UPDATES: 'It's gutless to carry on like this'

There were reports police earlier used rubber bullets against protesters as they chased them Carlton Gardens.

Quelling the protest proved difficult this morning, with demonstrators splintering and regathering despite police efforts to disperse the crowds.

Deputy Premier James Merlino described the protests as "incredibly scary" and "thuggery from hundreds of people". 

"A terrifying experience for innocent people who are on the West Gate Bridge last night. People you know who were innocently out and about and witnessing this thuggery. Journalists being assaulted. This is not who we are," Mr Merlino said. 

"I'm not going to call it protests because it is not a protest. This is a mob acting criminally." 

'Dynamic situation'

9News reporter Lana Murphy earlier said the groups had separated down laneways and streets before police could surround them.

The protesters are reportedly using an encrypted messaging application to communicate.

Hundreds of men marched at the top of the CBD, chanting "f— Dan Andrews".

Some were wearing high-vis but most were dressed in dark plain clothes.

The group of protesters circled north of the CFMEU headquarters, where hundreds of police, including riot police, stand guard.

Protesters have refused to speak to media on the ground, chanting "fake news" when approached by reporters.

https://twitter.com/gillianlant/status/1440506028173393921

They have instead continued to live stream the action on social media themselves.

"It seems this is quite a dynamic situation," Today reporter Christine Ahern said this morning.

"What police have been doing is pouncing on them one by one, arresting them quite aggressively actually. I did see one police car pull up and tackle a fellow to the ground with a gun drawn, at the same time a woman went past with a baby in a pram, crying.

"This is a much smaller group than yesterday. You can see it is a dynamic situation. We're just walking with them now but police are following their every move.

"But the riot police and mounted police, they're still back at CFMEU headquarters so whether they follow this group or not I don't know but I can tell you that police have been almost picking them off one by one and arresting them."

READ MORE: No serious injuries reported as earthquake rattles Victoria

'Appalling' and 'unlawful'

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, speaking in Washington DC, addressed the protests this morning.

"I can understand that people would be concerned about the shutdown of the construction industry – these are important jobs and they will return, we will get through this – but protest activity, and what we've seen there, I think, is highly distressing and that is not an appropriate response," Mr Morrison said.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews decried the violent protest action across the Melbourne CBD in recent days as "appalling" and "unlawful".

Mr Andrews said police will not hesitate to take action against those who acted violently and unlawfully amid threats of further action in Melbourne today.

"They're not there to protest, they're there for a fight, they are there to pretend to be protesting," he said.

"What we saw yesterday is an insult, an insult, to the vast, vast majority of tradies or people in the building industry who are not about wrecking, they're about building.

"Yesterday we saw 1000, 2000 people, many of whom behaved appallingly."

The premier said there were few words that could adequately describe the ugly protest scenes of yesterday.

"Whether you want to call it a riot, a fray, ugly scenes, you can scarcely find a word to adequately describe what we saw yesterday," Mr Andrews said.

"That's why Victoria Police are not tolerating this."

Mr Andrews said the construction industry needed a "reset" due to high COVID-19 transmission and its lack of compliance with the rules.

READ MORE: Melbourne protesters climb on top of truck as freeway grinds to halt

The premier received advice that shutting down parts of the industry would have been "unsafe" and sparked an uproar at a localised level.

"There's no campaign that's going to get a run here to change these rules."

Victoria Police have warned they will be "less tolerant" towards protesters threatening to gather for a third day after violent scenes across Melbourne.

Protesters are expected to take to the streets within a matter of hours after Melbourne was brought to a standstill by aggressive activists demanding a vaccine mandate for the construction industry be lifted yesterday.

Victoria Police arrested 62 people in the protests yesterday, with Chief Commissioner Shane Patton warning there would be no more "cat-and-mouse games" today.

"People who are contemplating coming in here today to protest – do not do so," he said.

"You're not going to be welcomed with open arms."

A significant police presence and response has been prepared by police to stop protesters, Commissioner Patton said.

"We have significant tactics in place, we will be agile in our response, we will be very swift in our response and conduct as we have seen yesterday and the previous day will not be tolerated."

READ MORE: Police slam 'cowards' involved in Melbourne protest, 62 arrested

READ MORE: Construction 'amplifying and spreading virus' before shutdown

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Rick Nugent earlier said officers would be better prepared to tackle any unfolding chaos, with their operational tactics shifting with the threat.

"One thing is for certain – we'll be less tolerant than we were yesterday. We are better prepared and we'll do what we need to do," Deputy Commissioner Nugent told Today.

"We can't continue this, we have to deal with this as quickly and as effectively as we can."

'Thugs' take over: Police Minister

Victoria's Police Minister Lisa Neville this morning described the protesters violently storming through Melbourne CBD as "thugs".

Three police were injured in the violence yesterday.

"That's on top of the injuries we have seen over the weekend and the day before," Ms Neville said.

READ MORE: Protesters filmed kicking police vehicles in Melbourne's CBD

"That's just unacceptable. Our police officers turn up to work, they should be able to feel safe in doing that work on behalf of Victorians."

Ms Neville said the protest action was a "slap in the face" to the Victorian community doing it tough in lockdown.

More than 500 police were on the ground responding to the protest action yesterday.

'Fake tradies' take over protest

Commissioner Patton said the protesters were a "mixed crowd", some of whom were pretending to be tradespeople and connected to the Freedom Rally.

"We know from what we have been monitoring that people are being encouraged to put on high-vis gear, to put on workwear, to come in under the cover of a crowd," he said.

Victoria Police will not reveal their tactics on tackling the protests today but assured officers will be out in full force.

"I want (the protesters) to be completely unaware of what we're going to do and what capacity they may face," Commissioner Patton said.

READ MORE: Protesters filmed kicking police vehicles in Melbourne's CBD

COVID-19 spreading due to construction non-compliance

Mr Andrews said the reason there was a vaccine mandate and now a two-week shut down in the construction industry was widespread transmission of COVID-19.

He said there are more cases in that sector than in aged care.

"I am gutted to have to shut this industry down but be in no doubt, there are 350 cases in construction, over 150 different sites during August and September," Mr Andrews said.

"This is real. Unless we took this action, and unless we see compliance higher, then we'll continue to see the spread of this virus and that puts everything at risk."

The premier reiterated the "ugly scenes" from the protest did not define the entire construction industry.

"This sort of behaviour is unlawful, it's ugly, it will not be tolerated, but I do think it's important to say that the behaviour of a few should not be seen to cast aspersions or define an entire industry."

READ MORE: Violent Melbourne protest wraps up after eight hours of unrest

There have been 337 coronavirus infections linked to 154 building sites across Victoria from August 5 to Monday.

Of these, 239 cases are linked to sites in metropolitan Melbourne. Nine of these cases live in regional Victoria. Seven construction sites are each linked to five or more cases.

Overnight, Mr Andrews said "anger" won't end the pandemic.

The Premier pleaded with people to do the right thing, pointing to the tireless work of healthcare workers throughout the pandemic.

The nurses' union yesterday demanded protesters "to stop thinking only of themselves".

https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP/status/1440264905307811850?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

"We are calling for common sense and voices of reason to prevail," the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (Victoria branch) said in a statement.

"Nurses, midwives and carers are exhausted and frustrated as they watch protesters fight for their right to overwhelm our health system.

"Nurses have supported dying COVID patients only able to comfort their families via a screen.

"Do not leave all the heavy lifting to nurses, midwives and personal care workers."

Shorten 'sick' over scenes

Former union leader Bill Shorten said he "felt sick" watching the scenes yesterday.

"I literally couldn't believe what I was seeing," Mr Shorten told Today this morning.

"It's gutless to attack the police doing their job. It's gutless to carry on like this when the nurses and doctors are working so hard.

"I didn't recognise Melbourne. I thought this was like something out of Trump-land when they stormed the Capitol Building.

"I never thought I would see this sort of lawlessness in my home town of Melbourne."

READ MORE: Protesters climb on top of truck as freeway traffic halted in Melbourne

Mr Shorten said he believed the thousands of demonstrators were made up of "opportunists looking for trouble" and not a significant number of those in the construction industry.

"If there are members of unions who are involved in this then they're not trade unionists that I respect," Mr Shorten said.

"The trade union movement that I have supported in the past does things peacefully and it does things for the collective good. This is a strike of the selfish.

"If you want to be tough, if you want to be brave, roll up your sleeve and get an injection."

Chaotic scenes have erupted around Melbourne's most famous war memorial after police deployed tear gas into a crowd of hundreds, ending a tense stand off.

The scenes come after protesters converged on the Shrine of Remembrance just after 1pm, with many heard chanting "lest we forget", as protests continued in the city for a third day in a row.

Veterans have since slammed the protesters for "disrespecting the sanctity" of the memorial.

A flare was set off and explosion-like sounds were heard as protesters ran from the shrine just before 4pm.

LIVE UPDATES: Melbourne protests: Third day of action

Many ran through traffic on a nearby road, where a car crashed into a tram in the chaos.

Police are now patrolling the surrounding streets on a Bearcat.

A large crowd marched to the Shrine of Remembrance just after 1pm after protesters marched throughout the streets of the CBD for hours this morning.

The group was seen moving up the walkway to the shrine chanting "lest we forget", the phrase commonly used to pay tribute to fallen servicemen and women.

Large numbers of police hurried to relocate from the CFMEU headquarters in the CBD to the shrine.

Police converged on the walkway to the shrine as hundreds of protesters sat on the shrine's steps and on nearby lawns chanting "freedom" and "every day".

Protesters on the steps to the shrine held up a large banner that read, "End Lockdown NOW. Dan-made Disaster!!!"

READ MORE: Police slam 'cowards' involved in Melbourne protest

https://twitter.com/ajhegarty9/status/1440539583163207684

The protests, which began on Monday, were originally said to be about the Victorian Government mandating COVID-19 vaccines for construction workers.

Screaming protesters then moved from the stairs of the shrine and rushed towards waiting police, chanting "stand with us" and "walk with us" at officers.

Some protesters took a knee while asking police to join them.

Police then circled protesters at the shrine, with officers forming a ring around the crowd of hundreds.

READ MORE: Nursing and midwifery federation calls for protesters to 'stop thinking only of themselves'

It appeared to be the first time today the protesters had been completely surrounded.

Protesters have been heard chanting "we want peace".

A few bottle were thrown at officers.

Police picked off some protesters in the crowd and arrested them.

A female protester was dragged out of the crowd while sobbing.

She was carried from the scene by four officers after she refused to stand and move.

Shrine of Remembrance CEO Dean Lee has said he is "appalled" by the "disgraceful" actions of the protesters at the sacred site.

"I think there is a difference between fighting for the stability and safety for the future of a nation, versus putting forward your personal views and letting that dominate what is best for the whole country," he said.

"This is not the sort of place to protest."

He praised police for their respect for the Shrine, saying that during moments of civil unrest, officers had always protected the site.

He said while "gentler" tactics might take longer to disperse the protesters, he felt it was the right approach.

Asked what he would say to a protester, he said that he would tell them their actions were "one of the most un-Australian things I have ever seen".

"They are dishonouring what generations have done to protect our country, and that is unacceptable," he said.

Victorian Trades Hall Council Secretary Luke Hilakari has called the Shrine protesters a "violent, angry mob … desecrating a sacred space".

"These thugs need to be cleared off the streets of Melbourne," he told 9News.

"We have had enough of this type of intimidation."

Mr Hilakari said there were legitimate ways to address problems people had.

He said protesting at a legal rally was far different to what had taken place in Melbourne in recent days.

"We had anti- vaxxers, QAnon, you are seeing people giving Hitler salutes, being assaulted, all of the fake tradie stuff, they put the hi-vis away and you can see them for the thugs they are," he said.

A Melbourne Returned Services League Sub Branch has taken to Twitter to condemn the shrine being involved in the protest, saying, "The Shrine of Remembrance is not a place for protest".

"We gather there to remember with respect and dignity and it is not appropriate to use this hallowed location for any protest," Hawthorn RSL Sub Branch said.

https://twitter.com/HawthornRsl/status/1440531444497936392

Returned Services League Victoria has also issued a statement, saying, "The Shrine of Remembrance is sacred".

"Under no circumstances, ever, should the Shrine be a place of protest," the statement reads.

"If any individuals or groups choose to express their political views, positions or ideological theories in the grounds or the Shrine at any time, they are completely disrespecting the sanctity this time-honoured space, those men and women of the Australian Defence Force who have lost their lives, and all Victorian veterans."

The protest comes after violent scenes erupted in Melbourne CBD on Monday and yesterday.

Crowds were unable to gather at the shrine for Remembrance Day last year due to COVID-19 restrictions.

By RNZ Figures obtained by RNZ have revealed New Zealand police used spit hoods on 117 children and young people between 2016 and 2020.Police used the hoods 129 times in total, with seven young people placed in them more than…