Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott is urging authorities to let Australians make their own decision on whether to take the vaccine, amid ongoing protests in Melbourne involving thousands of Victorians against government-mandated COVID-19 restrictions. “I don’t think anyone should break the law, but I can certainly understand people resenting what they see as bad laws and wanting to protest against them,” he told the  Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) “Australia’s Heartland with Tony Abbott” podcast. “I don’t think the problem of out of touch leadership is confined to this CFMEU. I think this is a problem across the board today,” he said. “The difference between the elites and the mainstream, the difference between the leaders and the lead. I think this is a widening gulf across the board.” Protests have continued for several days in Melbourne against COVID-19 restrictions. The action began with an initial gathering of around 100 constructions workers on Sept. 20 outside …