A VAST array of trucks and other vehicles rolled into Canberra on Sunday night draped in banners and placards for the Convoy of No Confidence.
On Monday morning, the convoy was permitted to complete a symbolic lap of Parliament House as part of their protest against the Federal Government, and particularly its carbon tax policy and live export ban decision.
They claim the government has no mandate to implement the tax, and are demanding an election be called over the issue.
Peter Bauer, of Stocklick Trading, left Atherton in North Queensland at 6am on Thursday, reaching Canberra with about 60 other vehicles late on Sunday.
He said many of his customers were cattlemen who relied on the live export trade but the suspension had caused them – and consequently his livestock supplement business – to suffer.
It was for this reason Mr Bauer said he felt compelled to show his support, with four vehicles from his business participating in the convoy.
“I have no confidence in this government whatsoever,” he said.
“And its not just live exports – they have no mandate to bring this carbon tax in.
“We want a fresh election to elect a government to make decisions on behalf of people instead of minority groups.”
Retired prison guard Bob Verhoeven of Townsville and cattle farmer, Ian Beck, of Malanda, near Cairns, travelled about 2500km, sleeping in the back of their trailer, to vent their dissatisfaction with the Federal Government.
Mr Verhoeven said he was upset the Prime Minister said before the election there would be no carbon tax but was now trying to introduce it, with support from the Greens and Independents.
Along the way, signatures were gathered for a petition calling for an election that will be handed to Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott on Tuesday morning.
Mr Abbott joined the convoy on Sunday at Marulan, 150km north of Canberra, hitching a ride in one of the convoy vehicles.
He is expected to address the crowd along with other Coalition MPs, including QLD Nationals Senator, Barnaby Joyce, and West Australian MP, Barry Haase.
Organisers are also keenly waiting to see if Prime Minister Julia Gillard or a government representative will accept an invitation to address the rally.
Numbers appear to have fallen well short of initial expectations.
Late Sunday afternoon, organisers said they were unsure of final numbers but were pleased the convoy had swelled along the way.
“Some might call the predicted thousands of trucks descending on Canberra ending up as hundreds a ‘flop’, but these Australians have every right to a peaceful presence on the parliamentary lawns,” Greens leader, Bob Brown, said.
The protest has also not been without controversy.
A counter-protest of bike riders organised by Climate Active Australia was planning to ride around Parliament House about lunch time on Monday.
CAA’s Geoff Lazarus says the powerful industry groups backing the event had agendas not in the nation’s interests and were “attempting to deceive ordinary Australians that the Government has no legitimacy”.
“The ‘Convoy of No Confidence’ is a classic US style Tea Party attempt by powerful economic interests to ultimately get ordinary Australians to vote in the next Federal Election for a political agenda not in their interests,” Mr Lazarus said.
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