Three people were arrested as police removed a small group of protesters from the Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC) campgrounds, after their booking expired yesterday.
Thousands of demonstrators who are in the capital to protest against a range of issues, including COVID-19 vaccine mandates, were camping at the EPIC showground.
But they were told last week their booking would expire on Sunday and would not be renewed.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr confirmed that campers had paid a bulk booking fee of $25,000 but said demonstrators must leave the site so it could be prepared for the Canberra Show.
This morning, police played a warning message on a loudspeaker, telling the remaining protesters they must vacate the area.
"You are currently trespassing and are directed to leave these grounds immediately," the announcement said.
"Those who choose to remain in Exhibition Park in Canberra may be arrested and charged."
The small group who remained at the campgrounds responded on a megaphone, asking police to show them "documentation".
Officers formed a line and moved through the site, dismantling tents and instructing campers to leave.
Some protesters who had previously left the area gathered at the gates and along EPIC's fence, yelling their support for those who remained inside.
Meanwhile, many of the protesters who left EPIC moved to the outskirts of Canberra, with between 300 and 400 people set up at the Cotter Campground, along the Murrumbidgee River.
Police hail 'very successful' operation
Detective Acting Superintendent Rod Anderson said the ACT Policing operation was "very successful and went to plan".
Only three of the campers were arrested, on trespass and other alleged offences.
"It means EPIC can get on with the business of providing events to the Canberra and surrounding community, probably most importantly the Canberra Show, which we've been without for the last two years and we're really looking forward to."
Superintendent Anderson said a large number of police were deployed to EPIC, though no officers or members of the public were injured.
Superintendent Anderson said one of the three arrested would also face the charge of resist arrest.
"Other than that, people complied with the directions officers gave them," he said.
Woman says protesters caused her to be late to son's wake
Protesters converging on the national capital have caused traffic disruptions across the city, including delays for a grieving mother who says the demonstrators caused her to be late to her 29-year-old son's wake.
"We were sitting in the car in increasing distress, realising that although the venue wasn't that far away, there was no way we were going to be able to reach it and we were missing the wake," the woman, who did not want to be named, told ABC Radio Canberra.
"So we were in a very sad and reflective kind of space leaving the crematorium going to the wake and we were completely ripped out of that … and into this huge distress."
She said police were able to assist her and her family in getting to the venue, for which she was very grateful.
"The police were thankfully, extremely kind and compassionate," she said.
"I think it's the irony of seeing … all these people and their flags of freedom, and the realisation that our basic freedom of movement to mourn our son has been taken from us."
Lifeline raises half a million dollars after book fair shut down by protesters
The Lifeline Canberra book fair was unable to go ahead over the weekend due to protesters staying at the Exhibition Park in Canberra campgrounds.
Lifeline CEO Carrie Leeson told the ABC the book fair was "the lifeblood" of the charity and it was devastating to have to cancel it.
But Ms Leeson said, thanks to the generosity of the Canberra community, the charity had been able to raise more than $500,000 with more than 6,000 people donating over the weekend.
"It's been so incredible.
"We'll train as many [volunteer crisis support workers] as we can with the funding we have."
Note: An earlier version of this article said police had arrested four protesters. ACT Policing later corrected its initial advice to three.
