The public entrance to Parliament House is locked down after pro-Palestinian activists scaled the roof of the building and protesters glued themselves to the marble foyer.
Meanwhile, a repeat Greens motion won’t be moved in the Senate today amid fevered speculation about Fatima Payman’s future.Nationals backbencher Keith Pitt was one of the MPs who wandered out the front to get a look at what was going on.
“I support an individual’s right to protest, that’s something that has been fought for and defended in this nation since we commenced,” he said.
“But I don’t support an individual’s right to firstly put themselves at risk, as these individuals have done, and secondly, to prevent the Australian public from accessing their parliament and see their representatives work.
“And thirdly, I completely environmentally disagree with their position. But as members in public life, as public figures, our job is to ensure that we retain a calm outlook, a calm demeanour.”