Police and security are prepared for activists intending to disrupt TDU events
Dozens of Extinction Rebellion protesters have gathered tonight attempting to disrupt the Tour Down Under’s kick-off in the CBD – but the cops are ready.
SA News
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Dozens of protesters have taken to the outskirts of Victoria Square in another day protesting against Tour Down Under sponsor, Santos.
The protesting event has so far been peaceful.
The protesters have been chanting “no more gas, no more oil, keep carbon in the soil”.
A line of police is standing at the gates of the TDU headquarters to stop protestors entering the event.
Extinction Rebellion has split into two groups to protest on different sides of the Tour Down Under opening night.
People attending the TDU opening ceremony have had to walk through Extinction Rebellion protestors who were laying down in front of the exit gate.
Earlier, police promised strong action including seeking compensation – from any extreme climate activists planning to disrupt this year’s Tour Down Under.
The warning came as race organisers cancelled the Family Tour, due to take place today from 1.30pm-3.30pm, due to a forecast 38C. All riders will receive a full refund.
In a strongly worded statement last night, Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said police would invoke the law around public assemblies, which included the potential for both criminal and civil action, throughout the event.
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He said this could result in people breaking the law being forced to pay compensation.
“Compensation would be for the resources used in response to an incident,” Mr Stevens said.
“The safety of all people in our community is paramount and is one of the core duties of police and other emergency services.
“For such resources to be unnecessarily committed to random acts of obstruction to public places deflects emergency service resources away from critical calls for public assistance from those in our community who might be at serious risk of harm.’
The festival kicked off with the opening of the Tour Village in Victoria Square on Friday, and police were on hand to combat any Extinction Rebellion climate activists, who had threatened to disrupt proceedings due to the sponsorship of Santos.
Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison said she was appalled that the group would target an event of this calibre.
“I’ve made it very clear how outraged I am that this cycling event is intended to be disrupted,” Ms Bettison said. “We hear your message and it’s important to raise these issues but don’t disrupt this event.”
Ms Bettison said police and security were ready to act should the activist group disturb the event – both last night and across the next week.
“Events SA is incredibly skilled and they’ve done these events for many, many years and we have this really deep relationship with security and police and those conversations will be happening continually,” Ms Bettison said.
“Whenever you’re holding a big event, there are risk management plans you look at and they’ve kindly made their intentions very clear about what they intend to do.”
Extinction Rebellion has planned a “wave of action” throughout the TDU, each lasting about two hours. They released a statement in which they planned to disturb the team presentation at the Tour Village last night, an action planned for after The Advertiser’s press time, following another stunt on Thursday.
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