Police and protesters have clashed and three people have been arrested as part of ongoing demonstrations against COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Canberra.
ACT Policing said one woman had been charged with assaulting a police officer, and two men who reportedly interfered with the woman's arrest would both be charged with obstructing police.
About 4:00pm on Wednesday, police officers went to the area outside the National Library of Australia in Canberra's parliamentary zone, to provide written information to demonstrators that they were parking and camping illegally, and might be fined if they remained.
Protesters had set up tents on the Patrick White lawns adjacent to the library when police arrived.
In footage of the clash on social media, some protesters could be heard yelling "you serve us" at police officers attending the scene.
This is the second time in a month that police have informed protesters they were camped illegally, with officers dismantling protesters' tents outside Old Parliament House in January after issuing an order to move on.
ACT Policing said they recognised the right to peaceful protest, but legal issues — such as camping and parking illegally — would still be dealt with by law enforcement.
ACT Ambulance Service paramedics attended the scene in Parkes and treated two people for minor injuries, but none required hospitalisation.
The scuffle between protesters and police lasted about an hour and officers then left the area.
