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Strikes gripped key Australian industries yesterday, erupting into violence at one picket line, in the face of planned changes to the labour market. An oil refinery, a car plant and a bottle-making factory in Victoria have been shut or severely disrupted by growing wage disputes. Strikers outside a Melbourne bottle-making plant withstood an attempt by baton-wielding police to breach a picket line.

Industrial tension has been building since Australia's main conservative political parties were elected in March, pledging to free up the labour market. Reuter - Melbourne