A WOMAN has been arrested after four protesters entered Parliament House on Tuesday and disrupted a Lower House sitting.
Victoria Police confirmed the Preston woman, 24, was interviewed and released, and is expected to be charged on summons.
The protest was in relation to the proposed Major Road Projects Victoria project to duplicate the Western Highway, which activists say will destroy culturally significant landscape between Buangor and Ararat.
The protesters entered Parliament House, in Melbourne's Spring Street, about 12.15pm and began chanting "Listen to Djab Wurrung" repeatedly.
Protesters videoed the incident.
In the video, police can be seen physically pulling protesters away from the rails of an upper balcony overlooking the Lower House.
One protester can be heard calling out "ouch" as a police officer tries to pull her away.
Zellanach Djab Mara, one of the lead activists camping along the Western Highway at Buangor, was unavailable for comment but did state via Facebook that the activists at the camp had no involvement in the protest in Parliament.
Roads Minister Jaala Pulford was unavailable for comment.
Meanwhile, Major Road Projects Victoria has confirmed the new completion date for the project is early 2022 - two full years after it was previously scheduled for completion.
The roads authority said it would begin works as soon as possible to minimise any further delays.
Construction was originally scheduled to begin in 2018 but has been delayed due to the ongoing protests.
It is unclear what financial impact the delays will have on the project.
Read more:
- Buangor resident speaks about Western Highway delays
- Western Highway delay impacts not clear
- The Western Highway duplication between Buangor and Ararat will go ahead with alterations
- Ararat Western Highway protest misinterpreted: Aunty Sandra Onus
- Ararat's emergency services say a duplicated highway would be safer
- Several sites are already protected under a plan worked out with Aboriginal Victoria
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