Riot Squads from the Police TRG Squad turned up to Fullerton Cove yesterday to shut the protesting residents down. I am sure there were many disgusted residents on hand to stand against such appalling treatment of residents. People who know they are not criminals and people who are just trying to be good parents. I ask the police, all of them on duty attending, is this what you want for your children is it?
You want your children to have the serious side effects from this mining like the children of Tara Queensland?
You want your children to have the serious side effects from this mining like the children of Tara Queensland?
Fullerton Cove Blockade Family Fun Day, a set by Lock the Gate on Flickr.
Fullerton Cove Blockade Family Fun Day Fullerton Cove north of Newcastle is a precious place to keep them out of. People power is all that will stop these mining mongrels and their mongrel drill Pad Sites! Get out you have no part DART ENERGY..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lockthegatealliance/
Fullerton Cove community blockade against Dart Energy's coal seam gas pilot drilling.
AND A SETwitter: Follow our reporter Michelle Ainsworth at the sceneRIOUS POSTSCRIPT EVOLVES HERE BELOW AT MELBOUNE'S CBD!
Commander Nugent said there were reports of horses being punched during the blockade.
HUNDREDS of union workers have faced off against police at the Myer construction site in Melbourne's CBD. 
At its peak about 500 workers were at the city site on the corner of Swanston and Lonsdale streets, facing off against about 200 police in riot gear and on horseback.The workers in fluoro confronted from 7am, near the scene of a blockade at the $250 million Emporium Melbourne construction project at the former Myer building.
Members of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) have been protesting at the Grocon site since last Wednesday, and a Fair Work Australia hearing yesterday failed to end the dispute.
Grocon has offered to let the CFMEU elect shop stewards from current employees but has refused to allow outsiders key roles.
Four police officers were trampled as the dispute escalated this morning.
Victoria Police Commander Rick Nugent said officers were forced to use capsicum spray to help their colleagues to safety.
He said the violent scuffle lasted up to 10 minutes after the illegal blockade prevented Grocon employees getting to work today. He slammed the behaviour of protesters who punched the horses. "It's pretty poor if that's what they are resorting to," he said.
But CFMEU state secretary Bill Oliver said "there was no violence here today". "Yes there might have been a bit of panic ... some workers had capsicum spray in the face," he said. He denied members hit police horses. "If a horse was coming at you, you have to put your hands up to defend yourself,” he said.
"There was no confrontation. They were pushing the horses back...to stop being trampled." "It’s about construction workers going to a job and not being stood over”.Police from the public order response team, operational response unit, mounted police and uniform members were called in to help get Grocon workers to the site. Police defended the use of the capsicum spray and Commander Nugent said it was to get the members off the ground that were under the feet of protesters. “Unfortunately the number of union members present was so great that we couldn’t safely assist the Grocon workers onto the work site and for the safety of the police, Grocon workers and also the union members were retreated from the situation,” he said.
Police will continue to monitor the situation throughout the day and are assessing plans for tomorrow.
Commander Nugent said Grocon formally asked for police assistance on Friday but said the State Government made no contact with police. He said police would review CCTV footage and make a decision if any arrests would be made.
The Master Builders Association has also hit out at CFMEU workers who clashed with police. Master Builders Australia CEO Wilhelm Harnisch said the union’s actions were reprehensible.“The law must be changed. Conduct where individuals are vilified and intimidated should be met with harsh consequences,” Mr Harnisch said. “The CFMEU’s behaviour is grossly unacceptable in any civilised society. It demonstrates how the current industrial relations framework can be exploited by the unions.
“The bullying tactics displayed by the CFMEU vindicates the building industry’s call for the return of the Australian Building and Construction Commission and dedicated industry-specific laws which target unlawful and intimidatory conduct.” “The building and construction industry needs a regulator with stronger laws to help curb militant unions and stop unlawful industrial action.”
The confrontation died down about 9am, with hundreds of workers leaving the scene following the clashes. Scores of tram commuters and drivers have faced delays in the city, with roads shut down.However, Lonsdale Street has since reopened between Swanston St and Elizabeth St. At one stage, at least seven trams were banked up on the corner of Lonsdale and Swanston streets. Union protesters linked arms and stood nose to nose with police horses after an extra 200 workers arrived at the protest about 7.15am. Hundreds of union members from city construction sites also tried to join the clash.
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