In Melbourne, mounted officers used pepper spray when elements of a 4,000-strong rally broke through police lines, reports BBC.

Police arrested 218 people, and at least seven officers were injured, the British media reported.

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 officers dispersed protests in Sydney.

Incidentally, lockdown has been extended for another month in Sydney to combat surge in COVID-19 cases.

It came as the state of New South Wales (NSW), of which Sydney is the capital, recorded 825 new locally-acquired cases, the highest number for any Australian territory in a 24-hour period, reports BBC.

In Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, more than 2,000 protesters gathered before holding a largely peaceful march, the British media reported.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon was quoted as saying by The Sydney Morning Herald the police operation on Saturday was effective in preventing people travelling into the city.

“There is no doubt that the prevention and disruption strategies that were employed by police today significantly reduced the numbers of people who sought to come in today to protest,” he said.