Story Bridge protest: Extinction Rebellion says Paul Jukes organised daring stunt himself
A climate change protester who suspended himself under Brisbane Story Bridge had acted alone, according to Extinction Rebellion. The group says people can expect similar in the future.
QLD News
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
UPDATE: AN Extinction Rebellion spokeswoman said Paul Jukes was prepared to stay on the hammock below Story Bridge “for days” until police removed him.
“I’ve been told he has enough for supplies for two days.
“He wants to stay there until the Premier, who he’s sent a video to, declares a climate emergency and takes urgent action on the climate crisis,” she said.
Story Bridge protester prepared to hang under bridge for days
Faces of Brisbane’s serial climate activists revealed
Specialist police forced to ‘babysit’ climate protesters
Banned protest pest charged after CBD ‘disguise’ fail
Jukes who is a member of Extinction Rebellion’s southeast Queensland chapter came up with the idea on his own.
“It was completely his own idea and autonomously organised action. This is indicative of what we can expect to see going into the future.
“There will be people all over the place autonomously organising their own actions against the government,” she said.
At about 11.30am, Jukes who was fitted with a harness got out of his hammock and started climbing up to a gantry below the bridge before he was taken into police custody.
Speaking to media during his arrest Jukes said he was willing to stay “as long as was necessary” on the hammock suspended below Story Bridge.
The Extinction Rebellion protester said he urged Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to declare a climate emergency.
“It’s not a big ask. I think they’ve probably been thinking about it for quite some time,” he said.
Jukes said he didn’t plan to suspend himself under the Brisbane bridge again.
EARLIER: The climate change protester who suspended himself under Brisbane’s Story Bridge has been taken into custody.
Paul Jukes had earlier said he had enough provisions and was willing to remain under the bridge “for days” in aid of his Extinction Rebellion protest.
The protest comes as more members of Extinction Rebellion cause traffic chaos in the CBD by attaching themselves to barrels and a boat trailer on George Street.
A video has reportedly been sent to Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk that says he wants to stay up there until she declares a climate emergency.
One lane of inbound traffic was closed as police arrived and began negotiations shortly after 6am, but has since been reopened.
The scene was photographed by the Medical Director of the Queensland Ambulance Service, Dr Stephen Rashford, who said it was “a waste of valuable emergency services”.
“Honestly, enjoying our rights in Australia to safely protest does not give you the right to act like a moron and tie up valuable emergency services,” he said in a tweet.
“Not sure affecting good people going about their business does anything but demonstrate immaturity.”
More to come
Wild scenes as car smashes into Brisbane house
Two occupants of a car are in hospital after the car they were in crashed into a property in Brisbane’s south overnight.
PM heads to flood-ravaged north, as military might unleashed in clean-up
Defence Force members are in north Queensland to rebuild parts of the Bruce Hwy as the Prime Minister prepares to visit disaster zones, while “disgusting” acts are being reported in evacuation zones.