“Since the Vietnam War there have been innumerable protests in Canberra. However, these protesters are simply way out of step with the vast, vast majority of Canberrans,” writes political columnist MICHAEL MOORE.

A FURORE arose in response to the news that ACT police had already spent $1.9 million on maintaining law and order during the “anti-vax/freedom” protests. Canberrans had already had enough. Then this announcement rubbed salt into the wound.

And there is more expenditure on the horizon, according to Chief Police Officer Neil Gaughan. He indicated that around 500 of the protesters are still camping in and around Canberra and further protests are expected each weekend leading up to the Federal government’s Budget on March 29.

The first source of anger for Canberrans was about local taxes/money/rates being used to maintain order on issues that are of a federal nature. The objection is that the majority of protesters came from interstate in order to influence the federal government. As such it is the federal government that ought to be paying the bills.

As reported at citynews.com.au, there are discussions with the federal government as to whether it is appropriate for some of the costs to be met by the Commonwealth. So far, we have the costs of policing. 

The anger was also levelled at those who have encouraged the so-called “Freedom Convoys” and “Freedom Protests”. Of particular irritation were politicians encouraging the protesters for their own political ends. Those named include Craig Kelly, Clive Palmer and Pauline Hanson. I think George Christensen could be added to the list.

Whipping up anti-vax sentiment and building up the need to fight for freedom comes directly from the Trump-inspired protests in the US. The appearance of Confederate flags at the protests might look good on American televisions and please the international organisers – but they undermine the cause in Australia. 

At least the more common “upside-down” Red Ensign and the Eureka Flag evoke emotions for some Australians, although I imagine most do not even know how the Red Ensign fits and what it stands for.

The second source of anger has been the treatment of locals by some of the protesters. Being called a “sheep” and other names simply because of wearing a mask seems reasonably harmless. However, the tone of such comments, especially when coming from a group decorated in slogans is threatening. It is also, of course, extraordinarily ironic. Freedom if you think my way and do it my way!

Local staff at several supermarkets and other shops were in a quandary when the ACT government had mandated masks and the “freedom fighters” refused to wear them. Their simple belief is that their own beliefs trumped the health of others. That the terms and conditions for entering a supermarket are set by the shop itself and the government did not seem to deter some.

The anger was not about protesting per se. Since the Vietnam War there have been innumerable protests in Canberra. However, as set out in this column earlier this year, these protesters are simply way out of step with the vast, vast majority of Canberrans. After all, over 98 per cent have had at least two jabs!

Another response was summarised in a response to a story on the ABC. David Jenkins wrote: “Doesn’t this whole self-absorbed and fake ‘freedom’ thing seem even more puerile in the face of events in Ukraine? That’s a real struggle for freedom”. Another comment used the word “freedumb” and went on to add, “it’s just embarrassing… and shameful”.

There were those who sought to justify their actions. They blamed the government, accused the ABC of failing to tell the truth and argued in some twisted logic that Canberrans ought “not worry about the cost of helping the people’s lives you have destroyed”. It may be assumed this refers to all those who have no freedom in Australia, or wear a mask, or who were vaccinated!

There were inconveniences. However, Canberrans understand this and have always accepted that in the national capital we may have to make allowances. The underlying anger at the self-centred approach of these protesters, however, fuels much less tolerance.