Climate change protest throws Sydney traffic into chaos, 11 arrested
Renju Jose Reuters
PUBLISHEDJUN 26, 2022
Climate change protesters marched in Sydney on Monday forcing police to close major roads in the city centre while morning traffic through the landmark Sydney Harbour Bridge was disrupted after a woman chained herself to her vehicle.
CREDIT: REUTERS/CORDELIA HSU
SYDNEY, June 27 (Reuters) - Climate change protesters marched in Sydney on Monday forcing police to close major roads in the city centre while morning traffic through the landmark Sydney Harbour Bridge was disrupted after a woman chained herself to her vehicle.
Eleven people were arrested, including the woman who police said allegedly put a bicycle lock around her neck and the steering wheel of a vehicle that was blocking all city-bound lanes. The vehicle has since been removed.
Dozens of members of Blockade Australia, a climate activist group, moved across major roads causing peak-hour traffic chaos for motorists and pedestrians. Television footage showed some people throwing garbage bins, construction barricades and milk crates on the road.
Banging drums and chanting "Australia's climate destruction ends here", protesters held banners with slogans including "Disrupt Sydney" and "Resist climate inaction". Police estimated about 60 people were part of the protest.
Blockade Australia said the rally was in response to "Australia's continued blocking of climate action". The protests will continue all week, the organisers said on Twitter.
Climate change is a contentious issue in Australia which is one of the world's biggest carbon emitters on a per capita basis and is the world's top exporter of coal and liquefied natural gas.
Under a new Labor government, Australia early this month raised the amount of carbon emissions it aims to cut by 2030, bringing the country more in line with other developed economies' Paris climate accord commitments.
Climate experts have said global warming is likely to make extreme weather more frequent in Australia, where the last three years have seen devastating bushfires and frequent flooding.
(Reporting by Renju Jose; Editing by Christopher Cushing)
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As police comb through CCTV footage of Monday’s “dangerous” protest in Sydney, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has had his say.
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NSW Police has a message for climate activists who caused chaos for Monday morning commuters in Sydney – expect a knock on your door.
Protesters took to the streets of the CBD in an unauthorised demonstration to protest political inaction on climate change.
Terrifying aerial vision has captured the moment one vehicle ignored traffic controllers, driving into police and protesters blocking traffic.
Strike Force Guard detectives are aware of the vision and are conducting inquiries.
It is not known if anyone was injured during the incident.
A police officer grabbed a protester by his backpack. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy PiperDemonstrations began around 8am at Hyde Park, where police allege about 60 protesters joined protest activity across the city’s streets.
Eleven people have been arrested, the majority taken to Surry Hills and Day Street police stations, where charges are expected.
Protesters threw concrete blocks, garbage bins, bikes and ladders onto the city streets in an effort to disrupt traffic and delay police officers trying to put a stop to the protest.
“The behaviour of this group was nothing short of criminal activity,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan told reporters on Monday afternoon.
Police made 11 arrests throughout the morning with charges expected to be laid soon. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper
Police try to contain Blockade Australia protesters as they disrupt CBD traffic.
Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper
He described the protesters’ behaviour as “incredibly dangerous, unacceptable” and “violent”.
There have been no reports of injuries at this stage.
NSW Police trailed the parade of protesters on foot and via a convoy of vehicles with sirens wailing, cleaning up after the protesters in an attempt to clear roads.
The Sydney Harbour Tunnel has reopened after a protester parked a car across the road at the southbound entrance around 8am.
Police officers followed in step behind protesters marching through the streets. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper
Blockade Australia has identified the protester as 22-year-old Mali*, who live streamed themself disrupting traffic at the tunnel with her head locked to her steering wheel with a bike lock.
A man can be heard approaching the car and angrily shouting profanities at the protester.
“To those people who are really angry right now, I understand, and it’s not a good thing to be experiencing. You know what? Climate change isn’t a good thing to be experiencing,” Mali said.
The 22-year-old Lismore resident was arrested and taken to North Sydney police station, where charges are anticipated.
He described the protesters’ behaviour as “incredibly dangerous, unacceptable” and “violent”.
There have been no reports of injuries at this stage.
NSW Police trailed the parade of protesters on foot and via a convoy of vehicles with sirens wailing, cleaning up after the protesters in an attempt to clear roads.
The Sydney Harbour Tunnel has reopened after a protester parked a car across the road at the southbound entrance around 8am.
Police officers followed in step behind protesters marching through the streets. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy PiperBlockade Australia has identified the protester as 22-year-old Mali*, who live streamed themself disrupting traffic at the tunnel with her head locked to her steering wheel with a bike lock.
A man can be heard approaching the car and angrily shouting profanities at the protester.
“To those people who are really angry right now, I understand, and it’s not a good thing to be experiencing. You know what? Climate change isn’t a good thing to be experiencing,” Mali said.
The 22-year-old Lismore resident was arrested and taken to North Sydney police station, where charges are anticipated.
A Lismore resident identified as 22-year-old Mali locked themself to a steering wheel on the Harbour Bridge Tunnel. Picture: Facebook
Protesters are disrupting traffic across the Sydney CBD.
Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper
Police have since removed the vehicle and all lanes of traffic have reopened.
“It’s been a pretty full-on year,” Mali said on the live stream.
“I was lucky but I was in Lismore for both of the major floods.
“I’ve seen a lot of devastation, I’ve seen people that I love lose everything, I’ve seen places that I love be destroyed.”
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has weighed in on the protest action by writing into 2GB radio station.
“These people are bloody idiots, and they will face the full force of the law,” Mr Perrottet said.
Police have confirmed that protesters will be charged under new protest laws passed in April.
Police have since removed the vehicle and all lanes of traffic have reopened.
“It’s been a pretty full-on year,” Mali said on the live stream.
“I was lucky but I was in Lismore for both of the major floods.
“I’ve seen a lot of devastation, I’ve seen people that I love lose everything, I’ve seen places that I love be destroyed.”
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has weighed in on the protest action by writing into 2GB radio station.
“These people are bloody idiots, and they will face the full force of the law,” Mr Perrottet said.
Police have confirmed that protesters will be charged under new protest laws passed in April.
Protesters and police move roadside barriers back and forth during strike action.
Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper
Protesters pick up construction material from the kerb and throw it onto the street. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper
Protesters can be fined up to $22,000 and/or jailed for a maximum of two years for protesting illegally on public roads, rail lines, tunnels, bridges and industrial estates.
Police will continue to review CCTV and other video sources to identify and arrest those involved in the protest.
“There is a way to do it and way they did it today is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” Assistant Commissioner Dunstan said.
“Expect a knock on your door. We will be coming to arrest you.”
Blockade Australia spokesman Sally-Anne* told reporters on Monday that she rejected claims that the protest was unauthorised.
Protesters can be fined up to $22,000 and/or jailed for a maximum of two years for protesting illegally on public roads, rail lines, tunnels, bridges and industrial estates.
Police will continue to review CCTV and other video sources to identify and arrest those involved in the protest.
“There is a way to do it and way they did it today is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” Assistant Commissioner Dunstan said.
“Expect a knock on your door. We will be coming to arrest you.”
Blockade Australia spokesman Sally-Anne* told reporters on Monday that she rejected claims that the protest was unauthorised.
Protesters knocked over barricades.
Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper
Police have warned protesters to expect a ‘knock on the door’ as more arrests expected following appeals for video footage.
Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper,
“There's no need to get authorisation for a protest,” she said.
“It is terrifying to do nothing and it is also terrifying to act out but it's necessary.”
The protest action comes a week after police raided a camp in Colo Valley, north of Sydney, where about 40 climate activists were found preparing for the week-long disruption.
The climate action group has been vocal about the protests since March when they conducted a series of extreme stunts across the CBD to disrupt commuter traffic.
Police will continue to patrol major roads and highways leading into the CBD as well as previous protest locations, including Port Botany and railway stations, throughout the week.
Blockade Australia will hold a press conference at 2.30pm at Redfern Park.
*Blockade Australia uses first-names to identify activists.
“There's no need to get authorisation for a protest,” she said.
“It is terrifying to do nothing and it is also terrifying to act out but it's necessary.”
The protest action comes a week after police raided a camp in Colo Valley, north of Sydney, where about 40 climate activists were found preparing for the week-long disruption.
The climate action group has been vocal about the protests since March when they conducted a series of extreme stunts across the CBD to disrupt commuter traffic.
Police will continue to patrol major roads and highways leading into the CBD as well as previous protest locations, including Port Botany and railway stations, throughout the week.
Blockade Australia will hold a press conference at 2.30pm at Redfern Park.
*Blockade Australia uses first-names to identify activists.
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