Heidi Murphy explains why construction worker COVID-19 protests are hard to cop

Heidi Murphy says those in the construction sector who protested and clashed with police in Melbourne’s CBD on Monday should stop and take a second to comprehend the “extraordinary privileges” they’ve been given over the past 18 months.

She said their actions were insulting to those who have been unable to work at all due to lockdowns, as well as children who haven’t been able to attend school.

The construction sector has been given a raft of exemptions to continue operating throughout the pandemic.

It remains open, despite a significant number of Victoria’s current COVID-19 cases being linked to the sector.

But workers protested on Friday about having tea rooms shut due to concerns about virus spread, and again on Monday about the requirement to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Heidi Murphy, filling in for Tom Elliott on 3AW Drive, said it was hard to cop, given the sacrifices most others in Victoria had made.

“It is infuriating,” she said.

Press PLAY below to hear Heidi Murphy’s editorial