BALLARAT police officers have been deployed as reinforcements as part of a heavy police presence in Melbourne at the disputed Grocon building site.
Following last week’s thwarted attempt to escort Grocon workers onto the Emporium building site, police have increased their presence in Melbourne’s central business district.
Ballarat Police inspector Bruce Thomas confirmed that local police had been deployed to serve as reinforcements, but would not reveal exact numbers.
It is understood Highway Patrol, Divisional Response Unit officers and stationed members from Ballarat have been deployed.
Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu used a speech in Ballarat yesterday to call for the powerful Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union to obey the ruling of the Victorian Supreme Court to end the blockade.
Mr Baillieu said the union was “showing contempt to and was in contempt of the court” and that the industrial unrest risked slowing productivity in the state’s construction sector.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay said he did not want to see a repeat of last week’s scenes when police clashed with protestors.
“We’re taking a couple of other tactics to get the people in. We’ve been able to do that and I think it’s a much better look,” he said.