Fourth suspect arrested over fire at Old Parliament House

The Australian Federal Police has charged a Victorian man over a fire at Old Parliament House that authorities will allege was deliberately lit.

A fourth person has been charged over the fire at Old Parliament House in Canberra that authorities believe was deliberately lit and damaged the nearly 100-year-old building’s facade, closing the national treasure to the public.

ACT Police arrested the 30-year-old Victorian man on Sunday following a joint investigation with the Australian Federal Police.

The man was charged with arson and damaging commonwealth property on Monday to front ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ben Morton issued a joint statement in response to news of the charges that said the Morrison government was committed to safeguarding the nation’s democratic institutions.

Ms Andrews said everyone had the right to protest but anyone found to be engaging in criminal behaviour would face the full force of the law.

“Australian law protects our citizens and their right to protest, but it also protects public and private property,” she said.

“People can have their say, but protest is not an excuse for criminal activity.”

Another three people fronted court on Sunday, with two facing charges of assaulting a frontline service provider and the third was charged with hindering a Territory official.

Minister Assisting the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ben Morton said Old Parliament House was a national treasure that sought to educate, inspire and engage Australians in democracy.

“Old Parliament House as home of the Museum of Australian Democracy symbolises the greatness of our Australian Democracy – a democracy that is the envy of the world and deserves celebration, not condemnation,” he said.

Old Parliament House, which operated between 1927 and 1988, and the Museum of Australian Democracy, is closed to the public until it restored.

The blaze engulfed the facade of Old Parliament House in the Canberra suburb of Parkes on Thursday, during a smoking ceremony that is believed to have been hijacked by anti-vaccination protesters.

Footage appears to show the fire was deliberately lit, but it remains unclear why and a number of unverified claims have emerged on social media.

An official statement made by the Aboriginal Test Embassy said that the actions of protesters in conducting a smoking ceremony was “done so without the knowledge, consent or mandate of the Embassy Council and Traditional Owners responsible for the regulation of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy”.

The AFP led a joint task force with ACT Policing to identify the protesters from body cameras worn by officers on the ground, CCTV footage from Old Parliament House and clips circulating on social media.

Anyone with information on the blaze is urged to contact the Australian Federal Police and ACT Police.