Australia: Old parliament building set ablaze in Canberra

Australia's old parliament building in the capital Canberra was briefly set alight on Thursday by protesters during a demonstration for Aboriginal sovereignty. Police said, no-one was injured in the fire, which engulfed the Old Parliament House's front doors before it was put out. It follows a fortnight of protest activity at the site, police said. Protest violence on this scale is rare in Australia, though flare-ups have become more common during the pandemic.The heritage building were quickly evacuated once the fire broke out. The building was set on fire by protesters on December 21 and there have been daily protests outside it since December 26.

“A police investigation into the cause of the fire has commenced. Old Parliament House will remain closed until further notice.” Former leader of the Nationals Michael McCormack was the first MP to publicly acknowledge the incident. “How disgraceful,” he said on Twitter. “An outrageous attack on our democracy, our history, our sovereignty. Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said it was “an absolute disgrace” if the fire was deliberately lit.