MELBOURNE, Australia — Protesters set fire to Australia’s Old Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday, officials said, damaging the entrance to the historic building, as demonstrators clashed with police and journalists.
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The circumstances surrounding the blaze were not fully clear. A group called People’s Treaty had gathered at Old Parliament House in recent days, organizing its activities in a Telegram channel seen by The Washington Post. Its users frequently referenced Indigenous concerns. The group’s website references the “deep state” and says it believes in dissolving all forms of government, and that it opposes mandatory vaccinations and coronavirus restrictions. The administrator of the channel and the website couldn’t be reached immediately for comment.
Another group known as MMAMV Australia — for Millions March Against Mandatory Vaccination — live-streamed the fire on Facebook. It had posted from Old Parliament House the previous day, vowing to return “until the job is done” and using the hashtag #takeoldparliament. Posts from this group were shared in the People’s Treaty Telegram channel, though an MMAMV representative told The Post in a Facebook message that the group had “nothing to do with what’s happening” and had only been asked to film the events at Old Parliament House.
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The building, which was home to Australia’s federal Parliament between 1927 and 1988, is a popular tourist attraction and houses the Museum of Australian Democracy.
Police in Canberra said protesters had started a fire at the main entrance, following “ongoing protest activity at the front of Old Parliament House” over the past two weeks. The building was evacuated and the blaze quickly extinguished by firefighters, with no injuries reported.
“A police investigation into the cause of the fire has commenced,” a spokesperson said. “Old Parliament House will remain closed until further notice.”
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Later on Thursday, Linda Champion, commander with the Australian Federal Police, said the fire probably began during a smoking ceremony performed by protesters. She said that officers used pepper spray while trying to move people away from the fire, but that the substance was not deployed near the blaze and was not an accelerant.
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison said authorities should act swiftly to ensure those responsible face consequences.
“I am disgusted and appalled by behavior that would see Australians come and set fire to such a symbol of democracy in this country,” he said in a news conference.
Earlier, Michael McCormack, a conservative lawmaker, said protesters were heard chanting, “Let it burn.”
“How disgraceful,” he wrote on Twitter. “An outrageous attack on our democracy, our history, our sovereignty.”
The Aboriginal Tent Embassy, a protest camp that has occupied a site outside Old Parliament House for decades, distanced itself from those responsible for Thursday’s events.
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“Although we support the concept of nonviolent direct action, we do not condone the destruction of public and private property,” it said. The tent embassy, which advocates for Indigenous rights, marks its 50th anniversary next month.
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The MMAMV Facebook page shared video of protesters clashing with police at the scene, while local journalist Rachel Baxter tweeted footage of protesters targeting media workers.
MMAMV has organized protests over the past six months in Sydney, Melbourne and other cities around the country, with speakers including far-right politician Pauline Hanson. Its Facebook page shares posts and images critical of vaccination and medications. It also posts about child-trafficking concerns and freedom.
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The group does not appear to be associated with Indigenous organizations or issues. At Thursday’s protest, however, some of those present waved the Indigenous flag, wore dot-painting shirts, carried Indigenous instruments and appeared to perform an Indigenous dance in front of the fire.
The building was also forced to close last week because of a fire during a protest, which was reported as an accident.
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