Anti-Covid protest forces Queensland Parliament into lockdown, Gold Coast Council chambers warned protesters plan to storm building

Queensland’s Parliament was locked down for hours and there were threats the Gold Coast City Council chambers would be stormed, as a series of simultaneous anti-Covid protests escalated across the state’s southeast.

Anti-Covid protesters have staged simultaneous protests across southeast Queensland with the goal of “serving” people of authority and stripping them of their power.

The bizarre plan is what sent the Queensland Parliament into lockdown for a number of hours on Tuesday after police received word ‘sovereign citizen’ protesters were getting ready to mass and storm the building at midday in an attempt to “serve” MPs inside.

By midday there were more than 150 anti-mask, anti-lockdown protesters at Parliament House on George Street, with around 100 police encircling the building.

Parliament House guards stand behind a locked gate while it was placed into lockdown due to a threat of an intrusion from a protest outside. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Another 120 protesters were at Government House, where Governor Paul de Jersey resides.

Police vehicles left Government House before 1pm but continued to patrol Ferberg Rd as stragglers from the protest made their way home.

One protester was seen waving a small Australian flag as he left the property.

Around 250 were at the Gold Coast City Council chambers and less than 50 were at the Gold Coast City Council chambers, where police reinforcements have been sent amid threats protesters plan to storm the building.

A gathering of maskless people outside the fence of Parliament House, while it was placed into lockdown during sitting due to a threat of an intrusion. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Dozens gathered outside the council chambers at Evandale for the ‘freedom’ protest.

Barricades were erected to stop vehicles driving in and police guarded the doors to the building where councillors were holding their regular weekly meeting.

The crowd chanted ‘freedom’ and threatened to invade the building at noon.

One woman said it was a ‘silent protest’ following a blockade staged by truckies on the M1 on Monday.

The "silent" Covid-19 protest outside Gold Coast City Council Chambers on Tuesday morning. Picture: Kyle Wisniewski

“It’s about our choice over vaccination,” she said.

Protesters also attended the Scenic Rim Regional Council chambers.