May 24, 2022

Ellen RansleyNCA NewsWire Topics Hundreds of protesters have descended on the National Press Club ahead of Scott Morrison’s nationwide address, threatening to derail the major event. The protesters, who could be heard chanting “no more boosters” and “we will not comply”, first flocked to Parliament House on Monday. On Tuesday, hundreds of people split off to swarm the press club ahead of Mr Morrison’s “Building National Resilience” speech. Camera Icon Many of the protesters were draped in Australian flags. NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage Credit: News Corp Australia The group surrounded the building, with witnesses describing the scene as “wild”. Mr Morrison were seen entering the building around midday, prior to the beginning of his address at 12:30pm. Many of the nation’s senior politicians and journalists are inside the building. On Twitter, ABC host and National Press Club President Laura Tingle brushed off the scene as “just another day in the office”. Camera Icon Hundreds of protesters have descended on the National Press Club. NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage Credit: News Corp Australia One woman was believed to be frantically organising a second party to move around the back to surround the building, meeting opposition from the Australian Federal Police. Camera Icon Swarms of protesters surrounded the building. NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage Credit: News Corp Australia The protesters are part of the “Convoy to Canberra”, which was inspired by a similar move in Canada which encourages people who are anti-vaccine and anti-vaccine mandate to make their voices heard. Over 200 cars, trucks and vans could be seen parked overnight within the Parliamentary Triangle, within reports more demonstrators making their way to Canberra to join the ongoing protest. Camera Icon Protesters blocked the entrance to the National Press Club in Canberra. NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage Credit: News Corp Australia On Monday, an attendee said there were “multi-layered” reasons people were there. “You serve us, you serve us,” they chanted while surrounding a police car that was forced to retreat. Camera Icon Hundreds of protesters gathered at the entrance to Parliament House in Canberra on Monday. NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage Credit: News Corp Australia, NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage In other instances, they yelled “sack them all” and “shame”. AFP had closed off all entrance points to Parliament House on Tuesday with only pass holders able to drive through.