On Thursday, climate protesters had also made their way into the Marble Foyer and glued their hands to bollards.
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Police quietly removed about a dozen people from the building before other officers ran through parliament after hearing about the pro-Palestine protesters, saying: “They have jumped the fence”. Fences on the grass sections of Parliament House were installed in 2017.
Other banners hung off the building read: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and “No peace on stolen land. Genocide since 1788”. The group chanted, “Free, free Palestine” and “Stop the bombing now, now, now”.
The protesters took one of the banners down while talking to police before they were removed from the roof. They had earlier thrown a paper plane to the ground below with a statement.
“On the 4th of July, we emphasise the point that Australia relentlessly continues to enable and commit war crimes as an ally of our ‘great and powerful friends’,” it read. “We use the occasion of the 4th of July to call for true independence from the USA and an end to the enabling of war crimes.”
In a statement, police said the four rooftop protesters had been banned from Parliament House for two years for the stunt. During question time, House Speaker Milton Dick said he had launched an investigation into the building’s security.
Protesters scaled the balcony of Parliament House.Credit: James Brickwood
“I have spoken with the Australian Federal Police commissioner and … organised an investigation into today’s events. I’ve asked the commissioner for a wider review of the security arrangements. I do not want a repeat of today’s events,” he said.
Albanese and Dutton said the protesters should face the full force of the law. “These actions have done absolutely nothing to advance any cause. Indeed, they have hurt the cause that those engaged in this reckless activity believe they are advancing,” Albanese said.