Old Parliament House fire case: accused granted bail again

The man charged with deliberately setting fire to Old Parliament House in protest has been bailed for a second time after breaching the conditions of his release.

Nicholas Reed leaves ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Picture: Gary Ramage

The man charged with deliberately setting fire to Old Parliament House in protest has been bailed for a second time after breaching the conditions of his release less than 15 minutes after he was let go.

ACT Police has accused Nicholas Reed, who has been living at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra, of using hot coals to ­ignite the facade of the nearly 100-year-old building as well as stoking the flames.

Nicholas Reed refused to speak to the media when he left custody for the second time on Wednesday wearing a hoodie and a face mask.

He was arrested on Tuesday at 4.09pm after being released from custody at 3.58pm after breaching one of his conditions by entering the Canberra suburb of Parkes without the company of ACT Police or Australian Federal Police officers, according to police.

As part of his bail conditions, Nicholas Reed must live at a house that title records show is owned by Business Council of Australia president Tim Reed and his wife, Karola Brent, a former Lane Cove councillor on Sydney’s north shore.

Tim Reed, the former chief executive of software company MYOB, declined to comment or say whether he had any relation to Nicholas Reed.

Nicholas Reed had been ­allowed to attend Parkes once ­before leaving Canberra as part of his bail conditions to collect his belongings from the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, where he had been living.  

Magistrate Peter Morrison ­accepted Nicholas Reed had misunderstood and continued the Victorian man’s bail, saying the breach was not particularly ­serious.

“In the circumstances I’m prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt,” he said.

ACT Police has alleged Nicholas Reed sees himself as “a sovereign citizen” and said he has an outstanding charge relating to political protest in Victoria.

Nicholas Reed is linked to several conspiracy theory groups ­opposing mandatory vaccination and public health orders that in recent months have combined with fringe groups.

Several of his supporters have been filmed by anti-vaccination advocate Michael Sims, including one celebrating Nicholas Reed’s release from custody.

An ambassador from the Tent Embassy said that Nicholas Reed was not associated with them and likely would have been staying at a different camp.

“We’re not aligned with one another, we’re all about diplomacy and respect,” he said.

Old Parliament House, which operated between 1927 and 1988, and the Museum of Australian Democracy, is closed while restorations take place.

A suppression order on ­Nicholas Reed’s name was varied by Mr Morrison, who said there was no evidence the 30-year-old would be targeted for lighting the blaze.

“It is a venue which perhaps excites some interest because it is a heritage building and also ­because it’s seen as having been the seat of democracy,” he said.

“Although I must say persons who are enthusiasts of those subjects, it seems to me, aren’t usually identified as being fanatical in their enthusiasm.”

Nicholas Reed’s matter will next return to court on February 1.

Additional reporting: NCA Newswire