Thousands of demonstrators have once again taken to the streets of Canberra to protest against a number of issues, including COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Protesters have been in the ACT since late January. However, on Saturday there was a "significant influx" of people at the Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC) showgrounds, police said.
Three people were arrested by police throughout the day. One man was arrested after he drove his truck through a road block, while two others were taken into custody for breaching the peace.
As of 12pm on Saturday, the protesters had gathered on the lawns of Parliament House, and despite warnings from ACT police to stay behind the barricades, at least 100 breached the fence, with police holding their lines by just one metre.
One man leapt over a barricade and was chased by two officers into the centre of the forecourt.
The man was led away in handcuffs as bystanders cheered for him.
Police warned protesters they would be arrested if they followed suit.
They urged people in Canberra to avoid roads around EPIC, Northbourne Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue, as protesters moved towards Parliament House.
Police also said an assault took place at the offices of the Canberra Harness Racing Club at the Exhibition Park in Canberra on Thursday afternoon.
Police said a person was hospitalised for non-life-threatening injuries, and asked anyone with any information relating to the incident to contact Crime Stoppers.
PM urges demonstrators to protest peacefully
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has weighed in on the protests across the nation's capital.
"My message to them [demonstrators] today is Australia is a free country and they have a right to protest, and I would ask them to do that in a peaceful way and a respectful way," he said.
Mr Morrison reminded protesters that state governments were largely responsible for vaccine mandates, and it was not a Commonwealth issue.
"I'm going to be very clear when it comes to the issue of vaccine mandates: [The] Commonwealth government has only ever supported mandates that relate to aged care workers, disability workers and those who are working in high-risk situations in the health system," he said at a press conference.
"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. In fact, the Commonwealth government cannot impose such a mandate.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese had a simple message for the protesters: "Go home."
"Don't engage in the sort of behaviour that we've seen … It doesn't advance any cause. It doesn't assist the sort of nonsense we've seen of people dressed up in military camouflage walking around Canberra," he said.
He encouraged the protesters to consider "the facts that are out there", "and the facts are that you are far more likely to avoid getting COVID if you're fully vaccinated".
Mr Albanese said the protesters were ignoring the pressure health systems were under and the hard work of healthcare workers over the previous months.
"Have some respect for the people who have been working beyond any reasonable criteria … working extended hours, under extraordinary pressure to keep their fellow Australians safe and to look after them," he said.
"Go home."
Lifeline book fair cancelled due to protesters
The protesters have caused damage to the EPIC showground, where the Lifeline charity book fair was set to go ahead on Saturday.
Police said as a result of the increasing number of people at the rally, the fair had been cancelled.
"Overnight, a significant influx of people to EPIC saw fences moved and campers established in non-camping areas," an ACT Policing spokesperson said.
Lifeline Canberra CEO Carrie Leeson told the ABC the charity did not want to put the community at risk by going ahead with the fair.
"Unfortunately, overnight they had about 10,000 to 15,000 people descend on Exhibition Park in addition to those that were here, and the behaviours and the conduct that was broadcast online last night made it very easy to decide," she said.
"We won't put our community at risk and ask them to come down here."
Ms Leeson said protesters caused damage to the venue overnight.
On Friday, ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr confirmed that campers had to leave EPIC by Sunday evening so that the site could be prepared for the Canberra Show.
He warned that if protesters did not move on, police would respond accordingly.
"We've been through this process once already in terms of managing a move-on at the end of a protest, so the same will apply," he said.
"Police are ready and we have the numbers to move on any of the last stragglers who don't move on at the conclusion of their rental agreement to hire the campground," he added.
The ACT government also announced that it would donate $25,000 to Lifeline Canberra as a result of the cancellation of Saturday's book fair.
Police have reminded protesters that they must leave the EPIC showground by Sunday, 13 February.
