Three arrested as thousands protest against vaccine mandates in Canberra

Police estimate up to 10,000 protesters marched on Parliament House on Saturday in a rally against vaccine mandates.

People take part in a ‘Convoy to Canberra’ protest outside Parliament House in Canberra, Saturday, February 12, 2022.

People take part in a ‘Convoy to Canberra’ protest outside Parliament House in Canberra, Saturday, February 12, 2022. Source: AAP

Police arrested three people on Saturday during a protest against vaccine mandates at Parliament House in Canberra.

ACT Policing said one man was charged with multiple offences after he drove his truck through a roadblock, while two other men were taken into custody "for breaching the peace."

Police said the crowd of 10,000 protesters was "generally well behaved".

There had been fears that protesters might gather outside a children's vaccination event at the AIS mass vaccination clinic.

Police confirmed those plans fizzled out, with no protesters showing up at the clinic on Saturday.
ACT Policing have warned people camping at Exhibition Park they must leave the venue by Sunday to ensure preparations for the Royal Canberra Show can occur.

"People who remain in EPIC after this time may be considered trespassing," police said in a statement on Friday.

A book fair organised by suicide prevention charity Lifeline was cancelled on Saturday following abuse directed at volunteers and the destruction of fences overnight.

Lifeline Canberra said on Twitter it made the decision to protect patrons' "safety."

The ACT government announced on Saturday it will donate $25,000 to the charity.

Lifeline Canberra has made the decision to close the doors to the bookfair today, the situation at EPIC has changed overnight and Lifeline puts its patrons safety first and foremost.
We will keep you posted on our opening hours for tomorrow later this evening once we know more. 

— Lifeline Canberra (@Lifeline_ACT) 

Meanwhile, One Nation senator Pauline Hanson visited the rally and spoke with protesters in the crowd, who appear to be a mix of anti-vaccine activists, conspiracy theorists and people from the sovereign citizen movement.

It came as Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he understands the concerns of those protesting against anti-vaccination mandates, who he said were "speaking up for the things they feel strongly about".

"Australia is a free country and they have a right to protest. I would ask them to do that in a peaceful and respectful way," he told reporters on Saturday.
He said the federal government had only ever supported mandates for aged care and disability workers, as well as health workers in high-risk situations.

"All other mandates that relate to vaccines have been imposed unilaterally by state governments. They have not been put in place by the commonwealth government ... so understand their concerns about these issues," he said.
One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson is seen at a Convoy to Canberra protest outside Parliament House in Canberra, Saturday, 12 February, 2022.
One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson is seen at a Convoy to Canberra protest outside Parliament House in Canberra, Saturday, 12 February, 2022. Source: AAP
The protests came as the Australian Medical Association made a bid to put hospital funding on the federal election agenda.

The association says public hospitals are in "logjam", with exhausted staff, long surgery waitlists, and emergency departments struggling to meet demand.

"Our hospitals are doing their best, but they are in logjam and it's costing lives," AMA emergency medicine representative Dr Sarah Whitelaw said.

Additional reporting by AAP


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Published 12 February 2022 1:28pm
Updated 12 February 2022 4:07pm
By Eden Gillespie
Source: SBS News



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