Controversial United Australia Party leader Craig Kelly has been accused of “double standards” amid calls for him to justify why he brought several unvaccinated protesters into Parliament House despite Covid rules.
Mr Kelly signed in the group of demonstrators, all of whom confirmed they’d not had any Covid vaccines, on Tuesday despite the building being closed to the public while parliament sits for the next two weeks.
He rejected any suggestion his actions were irresponsible and said they were planning to deliver letters to the Prime Minister, Opposition Leader and Speaker of the House demanding an end to mandates.
“These people are protesting about, they simply want to the mandates to end, so they can go back to work,” he said from his office while sitting with the group.
“We can’t afford in this nation to have these people out of work for another single day.
“I was at the protest campaign yesterday, and 99 per cent are good family people hard working australians who just want to get back and contribute.”
A copy of the letter had a list of eight demands, which including ending mandates, keeping borders opened and “rejecting any moves for a society based on digital identity”.
Parliament is closed to the public due to Covid-19 restrictions but senators and MPs can sign visitors in if it is for “essential” meetings at their discretion.
It is a condition of entry that people don’t have any symptoms when they enter.
Mr Kelly’s actions came after independent MP Zali Steggall had to intervene to allow Brittany Higgins to attend parliament in person so she could witness the statement of acknowledgment for bullying and harassment experienced by staff following a bombshell report that exposed a toxic culture.
Former staffers Rachelle Miller, Chelsey Potter and Josie Coles also attended to hear the Prime Minister apologise for what they had gone through.
Ms Steggall told NCA NewsWire she thought it was a “double standard” the protesters were allowed in.
“There seems to be a slight double standard, the instructions we had from presiding officers from members of parliament is that Parliament House is closed to visitors and we’re only to bring in essential staff for essential meetings,” she said.
“I consider the participants of the Jenkins review attending to hear a historic apology fairly essential.
“As a member of parliament having my staff in the building, I am concerned they were allowed to enter the building in the circumstances.
“My question in relation to these protesters is what was so essential about their work?
“If these protesters had been climate change protesters would they have been given access to hand a letter to the Prime Minister in relation to global warming?”
Protesters first descended on Canberra last week – and have remained in the nation’s capital – to rally against vaccine mandates and a range of other causes.
They gathered outside Parliament House again on Tuesday, with rebel anti-vaccination government senator Gerard Rennick among the crowd.
“We want to send a message to the Prime Minister and Anthony Albanese that there are tens of thousands of Australians outside on the lawns of Parliament House today who want one simple thing, they want the mandates to end so they can have their jobs back,” Mr Kelly said.
ACT Policing rejected Mr Kelly’s estimate on the crowd numbers saying they counted about 1000 people there on Tuesday.
