Extinction Rebellion protest plans for Tour Down Under ‘galling’ says SA Tourism Minister

Climate protesters chained themselves to a stack of bikes and blocked a CBD street as they protested the Santos Tour Down Under.

Climate protesters blocked off part of a CBD street demanding the sponsor of the Tour Down Under, Santos, be dropped.

Extinction Rebellion followed through on its vow to protest Santos at the TDU – one of the world’s cleanest, greenest sporting events – blocking the eastbound lane of Flinders St with a pile of bicycles on Thursday.

Protesters glued themselves to bikes, which were chained together outside Santos HQ and left a trail of fake oil from the building to the bicycles and the self-dubbed “rebels”.

The street is now clear.

Extinction Rebellion plans a “wave of action” throughout the Santos Tour Down Under, each lasting around two hours, demanding the event “dump Santos” as sponsor.

“Be aware some members of the public may be agitated or hostile at our presence,” organisers warn, signing off “with love and rage.”

💥 BREAKING 💥

Rebels have glued themselves to a pile of bicycles chained together outside Santos HQ. A trail of fake oil has been poured from the building over the bicycle stack and onto rebels.

Fossil fuels are the new big tobacco. We want them dumped from the #TourDownUnder. pic.twitter.com/7W1qwwe5NF

— Extinction Rebellion Australia (@XRebellionAus) January 12, 2023

Eastbound lane of Flinders St in the CBD blocked off. Extinction Rebellion protesting outside the Santos building ahead of the Tour Down Under. @9NewsAdelpic.twitter.com/YxeJjfNibD

— Sam Mills (@BySamMills) January 12, 2023

Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison blasted the protest, which aims to disrupt major stages and events including Friday’s team presentation and the Family Ride on Saturday.

Ms Bettison said as well as being essential in growing the TDU, Santos is building one of the world’s biggest carbon capture and storage facilities in South Australia.

“It is particularly galling to see Extinction Rebellion planning to disrupt a zero-emissions sport like cycling,” she said.

“It is outrageous to even consider disrupting an event like this that puts SA on the international map and showcases the best our state has to offer.

“The Santos Tour Down Under is a much-loved event on the world cycling and Australian sporting calendar and an important social and economic driver for South Australia, attracting 44,000 visitors to South Australia, injecting more than $66m into the economy and creating 742 FTE jobs when last held in 2020.”

Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier

Ms Bettison noted Santos has briefed the government on its plans to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040.

“We are supportive of their continuing work in becoming more environmentally sustainable,” Ms Bettison said.

“Their projects include building one of the world’s biggest carbon capture and storage projects here in South Australia, which will capture reservoir emissions at the Moomba plant.”

Support from Santos over the past decade has been essential in growing the Santos Tour Down Under and ensuring South Australia continues to deliver a world-class event, Ms Bettison stressed.

“The partnership has been particularly important for the women’s race. In 2018, the Santos Tour Down Under became the first race in the world to offer men and women equal prize money for stage wins,” she said.

“This year, the race has been elevated to a Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Women’s WorldTour event, the top level of road cycling competition, and every stage will be broadcast on the Seven network.

Extinction Rebellion invitation to disrupt the Tour Down Under. Picture: Facebook

“This incremental growth in women’s cycling is possible thanks to support from our partners, particularly Santos.”

Protests against Santos sponsoring the Tour Down Under will also be held in Canberra and Melbourne.

Organisers say the protest action will be “fun” and advise supporters to wear masks and bring water, snacks, weather protection and comfortable clothing, saying that “mobilising 3.5 per cent of the population” to use civil disobedience can achieve their aims.