Australia's first conservative politics 'mega' conference draws criticism

Dozens of activists have protested outside a high profile conservative conference in Sydney held over the weekend. They were opposing giving a platform to those addressing the Conservative Political Action Conference – or CPAC - billed as the biggest gathering of conservatives in Australia.

Nigel Farage at CPAC in Sydney. Source: Nick Baker

A handful of activists protest outside the hotel in Sydney where the three-day CPAC conference was taking place.

National Union of Students ethno-cultural officer Harsha Kadkol was among those outside.

It's a major event on the US political calendar, but it's the first time CPAC has been held in Australia and only the second time its been held outside the United States.

The main speaker - British politician and Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage spoke of a return in the West of so-called "true" conservative leaders and praised Scott Morrison.

But he criticised others - such former British Prime Minister Theresa May and ousted former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull - and accused them of "pretending to be conservatives".