A man set himself and his car on fire in Melbourne on Saturday, media reported.
According to witnesses, the man was heard screaming about "COVID-19 vaccine mandates currently in place in Victoria".
Emergency services were called to Church Street, Richmond at about 8pm on 1 January. The firefighters poured water on the man to extinguish the fire and later he was hospitalised with life-threatening injuries, Victoria Police reportedly said.
A video of the car engulfed in flames and emergency services working nearby was shared online.
Tensions have been flaring up in Victoria occasionally in the past several months after strict rules were introduced forcing people to prove their vaccination status in shops and other public places. Mass protests repeatedly took place in the region, with some of the protesters clashing with police over vaccine mandates.
In the meantime, the coronavirus immunisation rate in the country has topped 90 percent, and many public health experts have been urging the authorities to lift the restrictions. However, the state's premier, Daniel Andrews, said the rules would change only after the health authorities had assessed the vaccination of children aged between five and 11, and the booster programme for adults.