13 February 2022

Protesters warned to move on from EPIC campsites today

| Kim Treasure
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“Freedom” Convoy To Canberra protest march to APH. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.

Anti-mandate protesters camping in Exhibition Park have been warned they need to move on today after a day of disruption in the nation’s capital yesterday.

ACT Policing is ready to move the campers on today, Sunday, 13 February 2022, to allow preparation work for the Royal Canberra Show to get underway.

ACT Policing has been advised by the management of Exhibition Park (EPIC) that widespread camping at the site needs to cease today.

READ MORE Ten thousand ‘freedom’ protesters swarm Parliament House lawns: Photos/video

Organisers of the Royal Canberra Show say significant work needs to be carried out at the venue in the lead up to the event and it needs to be clear of people and equipment for this work to occur safely.

People who remain in EPIC after today may be considered trespassing.

The warning comes after a massive protest yesterday saw an estimated 10,000 protesters swarm the lawns of Parliament House, protesting COVID-19 vaccinations and mask mandates among a raft of other issues.

Freedom Convoy To Canberra protest march to APH. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.

The message from the protesters was, at times, confusing, with calls for borders to be open, “kids to be protected”, and politicians to be sacked. There were also calls to remember fallen diggers and restore democracy, with some religious preaching and mystic elements thrown in for good measure.

READ ALSO Protesters should not take capital’s tolerance and hospitality for granted

Commonwealth Avenue, parts of Northbourne Avenue, and several adjacent roads were closed as the crowd made its way over the bridge and up to Parliament House yesterday. The Lifeline Canberra bookfair had to be abandoned and the Capital Region Farmers Market was dispersed due to the protests but police said the crowd was generally well behaved.

Canberrans are being encouraged to follow the ACT Government’s lead and donate to Lifeline Canberra to help make up for the shortfall in funds expected after this weekend’s fundraising event was abandoned.

 

 

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Finagen_Freeman5:55 pm 13 Feb 22

Hats off for how well they have conducted themselves.

Won me over when Lord Shoafu said ‘tip in $10 each and I’ll buy 300 acres just outside Canberra where we will have our own compound’

I didn’t get a receipt but he seemed like a reasonable bloke.

thefionahamer4:57 pm 13 Feb 22

This article makes it sound as if the march “dispersed” the Farmers Market. I don’t have an issue with people protesting, no matter how silly their cause. The problem was people camping on the site of the market and refusing to leave. This has caused losses not only to around a hundred local producers, but to the Rotary club of Hall which manages the market and raises funds for charity from the weekly stall fees. That’s money that won’t go to scholarships, or disaster aid, or community members in need for example.

Scholarship,disaster aid or community members in need should rely on government support, in the first place, not on Rotary clubs or the like – those are only subsidiaries. Especially, in our country, where, apparently, government’s utmost priority is to care for the people of “this country” – as many of politicians call Australia.

These idiots need to demonstrate at State level. NOT Federal.

Kinda sume them up, doesn’t it!?

Gloria Newlyn2:44 pm 13 Feb 22

As the Lifeline bookfair had to be canceled due to the protestors taking over the carpark at Epic, would it not be appropriate for the protestors to take up a gold coin donation for Lifeline.

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