IMMIGRATION Minister Peter Dutton has called on Bill Shorten to condemn the actions of a Young Labor president who scaled the roof of his Brisbane office — a protest he claims would’ve cost $10,000 in emergency services.

Police have charged three women who climbed onto the roof of Mr Dutton’s electorate office in Strathpine on Wednesday. Two onlookers were also charged.

As the protest got underway, one of the women told reporters they were not representing any particular group.

Scarlett Squire said she and her friends Purnell and Ellen Sargent wanted answers from Mr Dutton about his government’s proposed lifetime ban on refugees arriving by boat.

media_camera Police talk to the three activists on the roof. Pic: Jamie Hanson

“We want to see this legislation fail if it does go to parliament,” Ms Squire said by phone.

But Mr Dutton later suggested there was more to it.

“Carefully have a look at who the people are that were up on the roof. There’s one with links to the Labor Party,” he told reporters in Canberra.

“In fact, I’m advised, heavily involved in the Young Labor movement despite her denials to the contrary.”

Ms Squire is listed as president of the Queensland Young Labor Party on the organisation’s website.

media_camera The three women climbed down after almost four hours on the roof. Pic: Jamie Hanson

Mr Dutton said Mr Shorten, as Labor leader, must condemn the rooftop protest.

“They’re dangerous,” he said, adding police and emergency services would have spent $10,000 worth of resources “trying to get these idiots down from my roof”.

“I think Mr Shorten should call these people out.”

Mr Dutton also defended the Turnbull government’s immigration policies.

The three protesters have been charged with obstructing police and unregulated high risk activity and will face court over the coming weeks. The two onlookers, a 56-year-old man and 45-year-old woman, were charged with contravening a directive or requirement.

media_camera Three people unfurled a banner off the Minister for Immigration’s roof at his Gympie Road electoral office at Strathpine

EARLIER: Activists climb down from Dutton’s roof

THREE activists have climbed down from the roof of Peter Dutton’s electoral office after almost four hours of protest.

The three women were assisted down a ladder by a firefighter while police waited on the ground.

It comes after three others were taken into custody after failing to comply with police orders at the protest.

It is understood the initial three arrested were not directly involved in the protest but stopped to show their support to the activists on the roof.

Police earlier cleared the area in front of Mr Dutton’s office citing traffic concerns due to its proximity to the busy Gympie Rd.

One activist had said a passer-by had stopped to give them some water and was arrested after they refused to comply with police requests for them to move away.

About half a dozen police officers were positioned outside the building.

Sergeant Matt Bowden was supervising the scene and said there were more appropriate ways for the activists to protest.

“Everyone’s got the right to protest, you’ve just got to be able to do it correctly,” he said.

Sgt Bowden said he was concerned that the protest was diverting police resources from the rest of the community.

“We’ve got quite a few police here and they’re there for the safety of these people and we’ve got jobs stacking up elsewhere that other police are now having to get to,” he said.

Sgt Bowden had earlier said he was concerned that the longer the girls remained on the roof, the more risk to their own safety.

“As the sun gets hotter and the shade goes there’s more risk of sunburn, dehydration and we have a duty of care so it makes things difficult,” he said.

As the protest neared its third hour Queensland Fire officers brought in ladders while police negotiators attempted to talk the activists down.

EARLIER: Activists have climbed onto the roof of Peter Dutton’s electorate office to protest against proposed new immigration laws.

Three Brisbane residents unfurled a banner off the Minister for Immigration’s roof at his Gympie Road electoral office at Strathpine at about 7:30am.

In a statement the activists confirmed they were protesting against proposed laws to prevent asylum seekers who travelled to Australia by boat from ever entering the country.

Kelly Purnell, Ellen Sargent and Scarlett Squire are currently sitting on the roof with a sign reading “Peter Dutton, International criminal, stop the refoulements.”

Ms Purnell said the group were protesting because the majority of people seeking asylum in Australia by boat are found to be genuine refugees.

“This constitutes refoulement under international law since the government is placing genuine refugees at risk of persecution or serious harm,” she said.

Ms Squire said the government’s asylum seeker policies were “hypocritical in light of Australia’s colonial past”.

“We are complicit in and initiate international conflicts which result in people becoming displaced.

“Having created the problem this government then persecutes the victims,” she said.

Mr Dutton’s office has been contacted for comment.