Hundreds of people gathered in Glebe Park on Saturday to protest COVID-19 public health measures, the first significant anti-vaccination rally in Canberra since the pandemic began.
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The protesters were still gathered at the park at 1pm, with a handful of police officers looking on, and some stationed around the park's perimeter to help direct traffic.
Protesters had earlier marched through Canberra's city centre, chanting anti-vaccine mandate slogans and carrying signs.
Police said there were about 800 people who attended the rally and no arrests had been made.
A counter protester told The Canberra Times there were about 500 people at the anti-vaccination rally. The number of attendees had dropped by 1.30pm.
People held handmade signs with messages against vaccine mandates and passports, masks and mainstream media.
A woman who attended the rally said she thought most of the crowd were from the ACT, with some from surrounding regions.
Among the people gathered were some families with children, with speakers addressing the rally from a spot in front of play equipment in the park.
Canberra has one of the world's highest vaccination rates, with more than 97.6 per cent of the eligible population fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
COVID-19 vaccines are mandatory for teachers, disability support workers and healthcare staff in the ACT.
MORE COVID-19 NEWS:
Unlike other jurisdictions, unvaccinated Canberrans are subject to the same health orders as vaccinated residents, except in relation to quarantine after being exposed to a positive case of COVID-19.
Anti-coronavirus vaccine mandate protests have drawn large crowds across Australia in recent weeks.
The ACT reported seven new cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm on Friday.
There are six people hospitalised with active and cleared cases of COVID-19, five of whom are in intensive care, with four requiring ventilation.
The new cases bring the active total to 163, while the number of cases associated with this outbreak, which began in August, now stands at 1986.
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Miriam Webber
Miriam Webber is a federal politics and public sector reporter, with a keen interest in integrity, transparency and accountability in government. She has been a member of the federal political bureau since 2023, and previously worked as the city reporter. Reach her at miriam.webber@canberratimes.com.au
Miriam Webber is a federal politics and public sector reporter, with a keen interest in integrity, transparency and accountability in government. She has been a member of the federal political bureau since 2023, and previously worked as the city reporter. Reach her at miriam.webber@canberratimes.com.au
Jasper Lindell
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
