Protesters hijack Question Time

PARLIAMENT descended into chaos when protesters, superglued together, shut down Question Time over offshore detention.

PROTESTERS hijacked Question Time by shouting at MPs “you have failed us” on offshore detention.

It started within moments of the House of Representatives session starting on Wednesday in the final sitting week of 2016.

A lady screams as she is dragged out of Parliament House. Picture: Kym Smith

Protesters in the public gallery were so loud and unrelenting in their shouts, Speaker Tony Smith was forced to halt the session.

Their cries were clear: “This is a state of emergency.”

“You shame us on an international stage.

We've shut down Parliament. #closethecamps #bringthemhere pic.twitter.com/o0yDXaE8mg

— WACA (@akaWACA) November 30, 2016

“You have failed every single person seeking asylum.

“Your policies are killing innocent people.

“Your policies are separating families.”

The protesters glued their hands to the rails in the public gallery.

The protesters said The Government had failed people seeking asylum. Picture: Kym Smith

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition leader Bill Shorten were united in their frustration, sitting across from each other in the chamber.

It comes after the Turnbull Government launched a bid to introduce a lifetime ban for asylum seekers who come to Australia by boat.

Say hello to my little friend, hippies. @ColinJBettles pic.twitter.com/4NzB2WaZmJ

— George Christensen (@GChristensenMP) November 30, 2016

About 30 protesters from the Whistleblowers, Activists and Citizens Alliance were involved in the protest.

The group were quick to post a video on their Facebook page explaining their actions.

They continued chanting in the chamber after security removed them from the public gallery.

It took hand gel and about 30 minutes to remove six of the protesters firmly glued to their seats.

Security were forced to cuff one of the protesters in one of Parliament House’s walkways after he refused to leave.

Other guards were forced to almost physically carry out protesters.

The same group disrupted a business speech by Malcolm Turnbull in Melbourne in August.

At that time a protester holding a sign reading “FFS close the bloody camps” made it onto the stage next to Mr Turnbull.

It took hand gel and about 30 minutes to remove six of the protesters firmly glued to their seats. Picture: Kym Smith

The protest group have disrupted a business speech by Malcolm Turnbull in Melbourne in August. Picture Kym Smith

“You ain’t getting rid of us that easily,” tweeted one member, referring to the glue.

Mr Turnbull returned to the chamber once the unglued protesters had left.

Speaker Tony Smith resumed Question Time 40 minutes later after the last protester had been peeled off the rail.

“Obviously the action I took in suspending sitting was a last resort as members would know and

witnessed, I wondered whether we would plough on in the extraordinary circumstances and I made a judgment that we could not,” Mr Smith said.

“Our purpose here is to conduct the business of the House and for the period of time we have been suspended, it’s very clear we were unable to do that and the dignity of the House would have been severely compromised had we continued. I just that to members and I think we can resume.”

Security were forced to handcuff this protester. Picture: Kym Smith

Mr Smith said every aspect of the protest would be investigated.

Both major parties condemned the interruption.

Defence Minister and Leader of the House Christopher Pyne said it was the most serious intrusion since a 1996 riot following an ACTU barbecue.

“On behalf of the Government, I would like to apologise to the rest of the members of the public who came to Canberra today to watch the Parliament,” he said.

Mr Shorten said Labor MPs had refused to leave the chamber because they would “never give in to those who wish to shut this Parliament down”.

“No matter what the protest, no matter who tries it or what the issue they think it is, this is the exact opposite of democracy,” he said.

Greens MP Adam Bandt however appaluded the protests.

Question Time brought to a halt as peaceful protesters hold MPs to account demanding gov #CloseTheCamps. Brave. Powerful. Proud. #qt

— Adam Bandt (@AdamBandt) November 30, 2016

So we start #qt a bit later. Fifteen minutes of disruption is nothing compared to lifetimes of misery #CloseTheCamps

— Adam Bandt (@AdamBandt) November 30, 2016

And the right to peacefully protest is also one of those conventions, Tim. We're still meeting, just a little later than usual. https://t.co/ZaVgOAJTr3

— Adam Bandt (@AdamBandt) November 30, 2016

Originally published as Protesters hijack Question Time