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Protesters shut Parliament

News Clippings Northern Territory News, November 24 2009

Federal Parliament’s front doors were locked yesterday during a blockade by climate change protesters calling for deep cuts to carbon emissions.

About 200 protesters demanding a 40 per cent cut in carbon emissions were visited by senators Bill Heffernan and Steve Fielding, both renowned climate sceptics who tried to speak with them.

More than 20 police were called in to move the protesters away from Parliament’s front doors—some left before they were forced out.

Police dragged remaining protesters to an area under Parliament, out of sight of reporters.

An Australian Federal Police cameraman filmed the demonstrators—in Britain, officials do the same to gather intelligence on a long list of ``extremist’’ groups.

Earlier yesterday, Australian Greens leader Bob Brown was cheered when he called for a referendum on coal industry compensation.