Police investigating the incident said a traditional smoking ceremony by Indigenous rights activists had got out of control.
The Aboriginal Tent Embassy, a permanent protest occupation site near the building, said it had not approved the smoking ceremony and condemned violence.
The fire came just one week after a similar blaze was lit at the historic site which served as Australia's federal parliament from 1927 until 1988.
Australia's current Parliament House was established in 1988 on Capitol Hill a short distance away, with the historic building now used as a museum and heritage site.
After firefighters distinguished the blaze, protesters continued to clash with media crews and police, some chanting 'long live us' and 'stop telling lies'.
While leaders used a megaphone to talk about Indigenous rights and colonisation, baffled onlookers recorded the plumes of smoke pouring out of the building.
An anti-vaccination protest group has denied being responsible, insisting its members only filmed the fiasco and were not involved.
The group named Millions March Against Mandatory Vaccinations (MMAMV) Australia posted on its Facebook page that 'mainstream media' and Aussies online had accused it of starting the fire and refuted the allegation.
'This claim is entirely false. MMAMV did not start this fire, neither has it ever claimed that MMAMV was responsible for the fire, nor for the organisation of the event,' the post read.
One of the group's leaders, Michael Simms, was attending the Aboriginal rights protest and smoking ceremony on Thursday before the fire.
He live-streamed the event, capturing dramatic footage of police trying to contain rowdy protesters on the steps of Old Parliament House as the front door burned.
His footage shows one policeman being knocked to the ground as several officers are pushed back by protesters.
'Michael was wearing an orange vest with 'media' on the back, which had been given to him by First Nations representatives to indicate he had permission to film the ceremonies,' the post read.
'Michael has been attending these events to spend time with First Nation Elders to learn their history and traditions.'
I personally think that police should also be held responsible for not doing more to prevent that fire! There were several of them in attendance, but there seems to be an official attitude that Abos have to be treated with kid gloves no matter how serious their crimes!
I almost fell over when I heard an officer who was taking one of the perpetrators in for questioning, say "I am respectfully asking you to come with me."
Effing hell!! Respectfully?? WTF!!
Gort
Absolutely Fabulously Incredibly Shit-Hot Member
I personally think that police should also be held responsible for not doing more to prevent that fire! There were several of them in attendance, but there seems to be an official attitude that Abos have to be treated with kid gloves no matter how serious their crimes!
I almost fell over when I heard an officer who was taking one of the perpetrators in for questioning, say "I am respectfully asking you to come with me."
Effing hell!! Respectfully?? WTF!!
It was shocking to see those Police being "pushed back" by a couple of Lubras women and drum beating and digeridoo waving abos men!
Obviously those police have been hamstrung by the hierarchy. They are not to upset the Abos! They are not to be disrespectful! They are not to ensure that public property such as Old Parliament House is set on fire!!
In fact what it amounts to is a situation in which police are just useless bystanders.
This is not a good look for the police. It sends the message that Abos can do whatever they like unhindered by police.
Personally as a law-abiding individual I've had a gutful ... and I'll be awaiting the decision of the courts as to the punishment dished out to the perpetrators. But I won't be surprised if all it amounts to is a slap over the wrist.
Meanwhile, the scumbag who (allegedly) set fire to the doors is in the slammer having breached bail shortly after being granted it.
Old Parliament House arson suspect back behind bars after breaching bail By Antoinette Radford Posted 17h ago17 hours ago, updated 13h ago
Protesters have been gathering outside Old Parliament House since late December.(ABC News: Harry Frost)
A 30-year-old man from Gippsland in Victoria who allegedly set fire to the doors of Old Parliament House last week is back behind bars within hours of being granted bail in the ACT Magistrates Court.
The man, whose name was suppressed by the court, was charged with arson and damage to Commonwealth property following a joint investigation by ACT Policing and the Australian Federal Police.
On Tuesday, the court heard more details about how authorities believe the fire took hold of the historic building's front entrance, with the man allegedly carrying burning coals from a nearby fire to the front doors.
Special Magistrate Jane Campbell said the man acted in "wilful disregard for those people inside the building or in the area at the time," but granted him bail under strict conditions.
The conditions included, except for in the company of a police officer to collect his belongings, he not attend the Aboriginal tent embassy or enter the suburb of Parkes, where Old Parliament House and the tent embassy are located.
He was also told after collecting his belongings, he was not allowed into the ACT unless for the purpose of attending court or legal appointments.
On Tuesday evening, ACT police confirmed that the man had been arrested in Parkes for breaching his bail conditions and would be remanded in custody overnight to appear in court again on Wednesday.
In court, Special Magistrate Campbell noted that the man had been a part of a group holding ongoing protests at Old Parliament House.
"This incident occurs at a time where there are significant protests outside Old Parliament House … that have been continuing since December 17, 2021," she said.
Crowds have been gathering outside the building ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Aboriginal tent embassy, which was established on Australia Day in 1972.
But the actions of protesters were last week condemned by Indigenous elders, and the Aboriginal tent embassy issued a statement saying it did not condone the protesters' actions, nor the destruction of property.
Woman's request to represent the accused denied
At the start of the Gippsland man's hearing, a woman was present in court wearing a kangaroo skin, asking to represent the accused.
The woman identified herself as Jennifer Stefanac and said she was a Wiradjuri woman, from central NSW, who represented the 'United Sovereign Nations of Terra Australis'.
Special Magistrate Campbell asked Ms Stefanac whether she was a lawyer, to which she replied that she was not.
Special Magistrate Campbell denied her request, and the accused was instead assisted by Legal Aid.
Outside the court, dozens of protesters gathered with many wearing traditional clothing and carrying Indigenous flags.
But the actions of protesters were last week condemned by Indigenous elders, and the Aboriginal tent embassy issued a statement saying it did not condone the protesters' actions, nor the destruction of property.
Just meaningless words - which is what we've come to expect from Abo elders! What I want to know is this ... if they did not condone the protestor's actions, why didn't someone there stop him? Or put out the fire? Oh no, they set about adding more coals to the fire!
Useless bunch of lazy layabouts who've never had to do a day's work in their useless lives. I will expect that the cost of repairing the damage will come from their welfare payments. Plus a huge fine as well.
Waiting on the court to show some balls and stand up to these scumbags!
And whoever in the police hierarchy who gave the orders that police were there simply as useless onlookers and bystanders who were not to intervene under any circumstances, is made public so we can all condemn him or her for having rules for the majority but not for the exclusive indigenous minority!
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Gort
Absolutely Fabulously Incredibly Shit-Hot Member
My heart is broken, but what care I? Such pride inside me has woken, I'll try my best not to cry, by and by, When the final farewells must be spoken. I'll join the legion, that's what I'll do, and in some far distant region, Where human hearts are staunch and true; I shall start my life anew.
Goodbye, it's time I sought a foreign clime, Where I may find there are hearts more kind than I leave behind. And so I go to fight the savage foe, Although I know that I'll be sometimes missed by the girls I've kissed.
In some Abyssinian, French dominion I shall do my bit, And fall for the flag if I must. Where the desert sand is nice and handy, I'll be full of grit, You won't see my heels for the dust.
I'll do or die, you'll know the reason why when told, Of bold Leopold's last stand for the fatherland.
Goodbye, it's time I sought a foreign clime, Where I may find there are hearts more kind than I leave behind. And so I go to fight the savage foe, Although I know that I'll be sometimes missed by the girls I've kissed.
In some Abyssinian, French dominion I shall do my bit, And fall for the flag if I must. Where the desert sand is nice and handy, I 'll be full of grit, You won't see my heels for the dust.
I'll do or die, you'll know the reason why when told, Of bold Leopold's last stand for the fatherland.
Goodbye. Goodbye. I wish you all a last "Goodbye". Goodbye. Goodbye. I wish you all a last "Gooooooood..........byyyyyyyyyyyye".
While some indigenous people were involved but they were not representing Aboriginal Ausralians they were representing the American inspired anti vax group soveriegn citizens...then the RW care not for the whole story just focus on part to rant negativity to the Aborignal people.
I think you're just making excuses Ponto. Trying to blame anti-vaxxers when you and everyone else knows it was the Abo activists as well who were the perpetrators. They were using the coals from the fire they use for smoking ceremonies - so obviously they were every bit involved in the arson.
While some indigenous people were involved but they were not representing Aboriginal Ausralians they were representing the American inspired anti vax group soveriegn citizens...then the RW care not for the whole story just focus on part to rant negativity to the Aborignal people.
Post by nataliesalat on Jan 23, 2022 20:00:24 GMT 10
Not racist, just feel no need to show respect to “Age/Sydney Mornng Herald” types. For all that is wrong with those papers, the Herald Sun and The Daily Telegraph are the best places to reach the floating voters
well, according to racist Derek Kicket on, "I'm a Celebrity, Get me Out of Here," white people aren't allowed to use the term "walkabout"... of course "walkabout" belongs to our own English language so we will use it any bloody well time we like.
Another thing I learned and never knew that the Nyoonga aborigines had 8 family groups and 8 separate languages. None of them understood each other. Nyoongas number 21,000.
Back in the 1950s, my MIL when she was nursing a very sick aboriginal woman with a baby, needed to communicate so they brought in a ranger to talk to her but she ignored him, even turning her face away. The story went because he was from a different tribe she would not talk to him but I'm thinking going by Kicket's reveal she probably didn't understand a word he said.