COMMUNITY leader Warren Mundine this week posted a video of protesters gathered around a fire started at Old Parliament House, asking Australian Federal Police to investigate.
The video depicts eight people, including children, watching as fire begins to engulf the building’s front entrance.
- The AFP had agreed to allow a smoking ceremony well away from the building.
- Mr Mundine rejected claims this was a smoking ceremony gone wrong.
- Special Minister of State Ben Morton called the fire a “deliberate act of violence”.
“Here you are AFP,” Mr Mundine wrote. “Round this lot up for questioning.”
It is understood several suspects have been identified for possible charges of arson, assaulting police and damage to federal property. They face penalties of up to 15 years incarceration.
INVESTIGATION
It is unknown whether Mr Mundine’s social media post directly assisted the investigation.
The December 30 fire, started on the portico made famous by former PM Gough Whitlam’s “God save the Queen” speech after his dismissal, caused extensive damage to the front of the building.
The video included a mix of fair and dark skinned people, some carrying sticks and featured a didgeridoo nearby to the blaze.
There also appeared to be a heavy chain attached to a door handle behind the fire.
Special Minister of State Ben Morton called the fire a “deliberate act of violence”.
He said the AFP had agreed to allow a smoking ceremony in the carpark well away from the building.
“That’s not what occurred,” Mr Morton said.
“I can’t work out why there would be agreement given to the lighting of fires by protesters on the grounds of Old Parliament House.
“These are questions that will need to be answered.”
Mr Mundine, a former federal ALP president and, more recently, an endorsed Liberal Party candidate, rejected claims the fire was a smoking ceremony gone wrong.
“If you believe that’s a smoking ceremony then you don’t want to go to their house for a barbecue,” he said.
“I think the AFP needs to look at these videos. If they don’t start laying charges, it makes a mockery of what this group is doing.
“Everyone has disowned them. Even the Aboriginal tent embassy.”PC
The Police Officer who authorised a fire in the grounds of the old Parliament House should Resign or be Sacked!
There’s not much left of the old parliament house to worry about.
The lefty gang of arty types that run it regularly gut out important historical bits for their left wing type exhibitions.
Last time I was there the opposition leaders office was gutted to make way for some lefty junk exhibits. Does anyone remember who the last opposition leader to occupy old parliament house was?
John Howard who later went on to become a really great PM. Well his office in old parliament has been gutted out (May 2021).
Personally, I like Warren Mundine. I’m sure he makes too much sense to the crazy Marxists aligned with BLM. And they will probably go after him with their race-baiting slurs. But, he is first and foremost a proud Australian.
“The AFP allowed smoking ceremony” Well, there you go. They got that in spades.