Anti-vax mandate protestors surround National Press Club as PM speaks inside

Protestors fighting against mandates on vaccination, and booster shots have today descended on the National Press Club, after travelling in ‘Convoy to Canberra’, a movement of truck drivers, to see politicians.

On January 31, the protestors converged on the Nation’s Capital to protest against vaccination and booster mandates. The group gathered outside Parliament House, demanding to speak to politicians and “make their voices heard”.

Today, February 1, the crowd swarmed outside National Press Club, where Prime Minister Scott Morrison was due to speak. Although speculation swirled that Morrison would postpone or move his address to the National Press Club, all went ahead as planned with Barnaby Joyce walking through the protestors, and Scott Morrison being driven in, through a line of police officers.

Morrison’s speech can be viewed here:

Here’s the action as it unfolded, shared with the world via Twitter:

The Prime Minister @ScottMorrisonMP arriving at National Press Club for his address. Police lining the driveway. Protestors mainly at the front of the building. pic.twitter.com/tzxaoJi96K

— Shuba Krishnan (@ShubaSKrishnan) February 1, 2022

Cooked convoy to Canberra participants are surrounding the National Press Club as Scott Morrison is set to arrive. pic.twitter.com/sXIy9LrSc5

— ⓘⓌⓡⓘⓣⓔ (@opinionhacker) February 1, 2022

Another day at the office ⁦@PressClubAust⁩ pic.twitter.com/PftTa4AFqL

— Laura Tingle (@latingle) February 1, 2022

Some were critical of the compassion the protestors were being met with, many comparing them to the March 4 Our Lives rallies held in early 2021:

Will Scott Morrison tell the anti-vax truck convoy that they’re lucky to be able to protest without being shot at?

— Sally Rugg (@sallyrugg) January 31, 2022

The interesting thing to me about the Canberra convoy protest is that once again, the crowd is overwhelmingly middle-aged or older. There are a few young people dotted here and there, but this is not a young movement.

More pointed question as they walk to PH, where are the cops?

— Elise Thomas (@elisethoma5) January 31, 2022

Some were just confused by the entire ordeal, saying:

Have the convoy people really travelled to Canberra to see “politicians” without realising the politicians aren’t due back until next week so they’re mostly at home in their own states? ????

— jeremy andrews (@plainte) January 31, 2022

More to come as the story develops.