Four people are facing trespassing charges after they failed to pack up and leave an anti-vaccination protest camp before a police-enforced deadline.
Thousands from the Convoy to Canberra group set up camp in the nation’s capital, causing weeks of disruption while they protested against vaccine mandates.
The number of people camping at Exhibition Park in Canberra’s north had swelled in recent dayxjmtzyws but police issued those without a valid booking beyond Monday with an move on notice.
Campers were told last week their booking would expire on Sunday evening, after the showgrounds declined to renew it so preparations for the Canberra show could take place.
Police confirmed a majority of the protesters had moved on by the time they arrived on Monday morning and fewer than 1000 campers remained.
“This operation was successful and those people who were illegally camping here at EPIC have been moved on,” Detective Acting Superintendent Rod Anderson said.
“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.”
Of the four charged with trespassing, one is facing an additional charge of resisting police.
It’s not the first time the campers were told to pack up and move on, with a previous camp inside the capital’s parliamentary triangle disbanded by police earlier this month.
Many of the protesters who have left the showgrounds have now moved to campsites on the outskirts of Canberra, setting up site at the Cotter Campground.
Police have shut down claims more than one million people attended an anti-vaccination mandate protest at the weekend.
Police confirmed up to 10,000 people attended the demonstration at Parliament House on Saturday.
But frustrated campers have taken issue with official estimates, taking to social media to complain the media and police were hiding the protests‘ true attendance, suggesting the crowd was anywhere between 300,000 to one million.
On Sunday, police confirmed a woman had been charged after a fiery clash with an anti-vaccination protester.
The vision, which was shared widely on social media, showed the woman mount her Holden Captiva on the protester’s car.
“Inquiries relating to the incident occurred today and the driver of a black SUV will be issued an infringement for negligent driving,” a spokesman said.
