The number of drivers joining the 'convoy of no-confidence' has failed to meet organisers' expectations

A SENIOR Gillard government minister has attacked as extremists the organisers of today's "convoy of no confidence", as broadcaster Alan Jones declared protesters' democratic rights had been violated.

Numbers at the protest fell well short of those predicted by organisers, with cars and camper vans outnumbering the barely 100 trucks converging on Canberra this morning.

After an early-morning lap of the parliament, the majority of the trucks were parked on the city's outskirts with about 200 protesters returning to the parliamentary precinct by bus.

Organiser Mick Pattel, the National Road Freight Association president and a former LNP candidate in Queensland, said protesters had a range of grievances but all wanted a fresh election.

"The system of government we have in place is controlled by the Greens and independents and we believe it's not a democratic system we have at the moment," he said.

But Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese said Mr Pattel was an extremist who said on his website that "a global government could bring in an international army to quell any uprising in the rogue countries if we shut down after the treaty - that is the Copenhagen agreement - is signed".

Mr Albanese called on Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and his deputy Warren Truss to repudiate such extreme views.

Mr Pattel conceded the rally would struggle to attract the 10,000 people initially predicted.

Mr Jones, the 2GB broadcaster, said the protesters had been prevented from having their voices heard.

"Someone has instructed the federal police from stopping them (protesters) going where they want to go," he said.

"This is shameful. Here are the people in their trucks, this is the most disgraceful thing that has ever been done to democracy."

Protester Anita Donlon, from Bendigo, said Australians of all political stripes had joined the rally because they were fed up with the Gillard government.

"This is about putting the government on notice and asking the Governor-General to call an election. The people want it," she said.

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