Protests over the lockdown have erupted in Australia's two major cities, both of which are grappling with increasing Delta outbreaks.

On Saturday afternoon, around 1000 "Freedom Rally" protestors marched through Melbourne streets, with some fighting with police.

In Melbourne, dozens of police officers have been spotted pepper spraying and tackling protestors, while protesters have also stormed through police lines to rush down the street.

Before breaking through the barrier, a line of demonstrators raced with their arms linked towards the police, startling the horses.

"shame on you, shame on the lot of you" the demonstrators screamed at the cops.

Some protestors have been detained, while others have decided to take a break from parading to treat pepper spray injuries.

A barrier has been built up outside Melbourne's Parliament House to try to halt the protestors. Around 700 police officers have been deployed to try to stop the protesters.

The protestors gathered in the city's center at the intersection of Elizabeth and Little Bourke streets.

They gathered in a matter of seconds after hearing loud yells, according to the Herald Sun.

"Sack Dan Andrews" the Premier of Victoria, the mob chants, as others hold posters that say "vaccines kill" and "open schools and parks now"

The demonstration began at 12 p.m. local time, and the film shows that the bulk of the demonstrators are not wearing masks.

Protesters were also spotted yelling "sheep, sheep, sheep" at individuals waiting in line for Covid-19 testing.

Meanwhile, the first anti-lockdown protestors were detained in Sydney about noon.

A guy and a woman in handcuffs were seen sitting on the curb with cops watching them.

Two police policemen flank another lady as she walks along the street.

As Sydney began its first weekend under increased restrictions and Melbourne saw another rise in case numbers, tens of thousands of police officers were ready to obstruct anti-lockdown rallies across Australia today.

Shane Patton, Melbourne's top police commissioner, said officers had issued about 70 infringements in the last 24 hours, including curfew violations.

On Saturday morning, six infringements had already been given to persons in Melbourne's CBD.

Those planning to join an anti-lockdown demonstration in central Sydney from midday will be confronted by a "zero tolerance" force of 1400 officers ready to issue fines and make arrests for violating public health restrictions, NSW Police said earlier.

As key organizers in online forums communicated plans to elude police and continue with the unlawful gathering, a huge number of cops were stationed across the city's major highways to apprehend individuals on their way to the demonstration.

"The police will clamp down harder this time, but that is fine because we will still heavily outnumber them and have many brave warriors on our side ready to stand up and Fight for Freedom." one admin of a 2500-member anti-vax group on encrypted app Telegram told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Police also issued a series of public safety orders restricting the ability of important "agitators" to participate.

The midday demonstration was organized by the same organization that organized a July protest that resulted in 350 fines and 60 arrests and disturbing images of rioting on Melbourne and Sydney streets.

According to the organizers, the events took place in Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth, Cairns, and Townsville.

Officers were ready to inflict harsh fines on anyone caught engaging, according to Police Minister David Elliott.

"Anyone who attends tomorrow's demonstration will be met with the full power of the NSW Police Force. You'll also be putting your loved ones' life in jeopardy, as well as prolonging the lockdown "Elliott said.

"If you're in a non-hotspot LGA, the last thing you want is people coming to this rally tomorrow and taking back to your LGA the same level of infection that we've got tragically in the 12 that are considered hotspots right now."

NSW Police also restricted taxi, ridesharing, and passenger services from bringing passengers to the Sydney CBD between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. today, to quell any prospective freedom protests.

Authorities were particularly afraid that the NSW Government's imposition of further restrictions on Friday might incite protests.

Stay-at-home orders will now be in effect throughout the city until the end of September, with inhabitants in virus hotspots also being subjected to a nighttime curfew and limited to one hour of outdoor activity each day.