Wednesday 29 June 2022

Blockade Australia members were before Sydney Central Local Court this week - face prospect of two years gaol and $22,000 fine

 

The Sydney Morning Herald, 27 June 2022:


A car has driven through in Sydney's CBD as unrest continues.












A car has driven into a march by a climate activist group in Sydney’s CBD on Monday morning. NSW Police said they were aware of the incident and had commenced inquiries.


The Harbour Tunnel was earlier blocked by a member of the group Blockade Australia, while other CBD streets were obstructed during a morning of protest.


The woman, 22, from Lismore, blocked the southbound entrance to the tunnel by chaining herself to the steering wheel of her parked white car just after 8am.


The tunnel reopened after police arrested her. Southbound traffic on the Warringah Freeway and Gore Hill Freeway has since cleared.


The woman, named Mali, live-streamed the event in which an unknown man repeatedly approached her car to yell obscenities at her.


So far, 10 people have been arrested after participating in the unauthorised protest. They are awaiting charges at Surry Hills and Day Street police stations.


I’ve watched much devastation with two one-in-100-year floods. This is climate change. I cannot stay silent any more. I cannot be complacent any more. The colony of Australia, this destructive colony system landed here, hellbent on spreading exploitative practices all over the earth,” Mali told viewers.


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.


There’s a lot of people yelling, it’s quite overwhelming, but it’s been an overwhelming year. I was lucky in Lismore, but I’ve seen people that I love lose everything and places I love be destroyed.”


The Blockade Australia protest began at Hyde Park at 8am and quickly moved across the city’s CBD towards the harbour. Streets were obstructed with wheelie bins, plastic crates, and other items.


The protesters began to disperse in the CBD just before 9am. According to internal communications seen by The Sydney Morning Herald, the group intended to reconvene at lunchtime. NSW Police estimate about 50 to 60 people were involved in the protest….


Read the full article here.


NSW Police Public Site – News, 27 June 2022, Charges laid following unauthorised protests, excerpt:


Police have made 10 arrests following unauthorised protests in the Sydney CBD and North Sydney this morning…...


Those arrested are:


  • A 49-year-old man from Williamstown, Victoria, charged with Enter etc Sydney Harbour Bridge etc disrupt etc vehicles etc; pedestrian obstruct driver’s/other pedestrian’s path (two counts). He’s been bail refused to appear in Central Local Court tomorrow (Tuesday 28 June 2022).

  • A 25-year-old man from Brandy Hill, NSW, charged with Enter etc Sydney Harbour Bridge etc disrupt etc vehicles etc; pedestrian obstruct driver’s/other pedestrian’s path (two counts). He’s been bail refused to appear in Central Local Court tomorrow (Tuesday 28 June 2022).

  • A 34-year-old woman from Leichhardt charged with Enter etc Sydney Harbour Bridge etc disrupt etc vehicles etc; pedestrian obstruct driver’s/other pedestrian’s path; and wilfully prevent free passage of person/vehicle/vessel. He was given strict conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on 21 July 2022.

  • A 24-year-old woman from Preston, Victoria, charged with Enter etc Sydney Harbour Bridge etc disrupt etc vehicles etc; pedestrian obstruct driver’s/other pedestrian’s path; and wilfully prevent free passage of person/vehicle/vessel. He’s been bail refused to appear in Central Local Court tomorrow (Tuesday 28 June 2022).

  • A 26-year-old man from Ellinbank, Victoria, charged with Enter etc Sydney Harbour Bridge etc disrupt etc vehicles etc; pedestrian obstruct driver’s/other pedestrian’s path; and wilfully prevent free passage of person/vehicle/vessel. He was given strict conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on 21 July 2022.

  • A 21-year-old woman from Lismore Heights charged with Enter etc Sydney Harbour Bridge etc disrupt etc vehicles etc. She’s been bail refused to appear in Central Local Court tomorrow (Tuesday 28 June 2022).

  • A 30-year-old woman from Carnegie, Victoria, charged with Enter etc Sydney Harbour Bridge etc disrupt etc vehicles etc; pedestrian obstruct driver’s/other pedestrian’s path; and wilfully prevent free passage of person/vehicle/vessel. She was given strict conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on 21 July 2022.

  • A 22-year-old woman from St Lucia, Queensland, charged with Enter etc Sydney Harbour Bridge etc disrupt etc vehicles etc; pedestrian obstruct driver’s/other pedestrian’s path; and wilfully prevent free passage of person/vehicle/vessel. She’s been bail refused to appear in Central Local Court tomorrow (Tuesday 28 June 2022).

  • A 25-year-old man from Coburg, Victoria, charged with Enter etc Sydney Harbour Bridge etc disrupt etc vehicles etc; and wilfully prevent free passage of a person or vehicle. He’s been bail refused to appear in Central Local Court tomorrow (Tuesday 28 June 2022).

  • A 22-year-old woman from Petersham charged with Enter etc Sydney Harbour Bridge etc disrupt etc vehicles etc; and wilfully prevent free passage of a person or vehicle. She’s been bail refused to appear in Central Local Court tomorrow (Tuesday 28 June 2022).


Perth Now, 28 June 2022:


The young woman who locked herself onto the steering wheel of a car blocking Sydney's harbour tunnel in peak-hour traffic has been granted conditional bail along with fellow climate protesters……


Mr Davis outside court said his clients were brave in the face of the newly implemented penalties that target protests on major roads, ports and railways.


Some face two years in prison and a fine of $22,000.


The group will next return to court on July 19 where they are expected to enter pleas.


Bail conditions include reporting to police three times a week, restrictions from entering Sydney's CBD, and prevention from contacting co-accused.




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