Protest shuts down Riverside Expressway exit

Two women have been arrested after causing traffic chaos in Brisbane’s CBD this morning during a protest.

Two women arrested after causing traffic chaos in Brisbane’s CBD this morning while protesting coal seam gas wells have been fined and given a dressing down by a magistrate.

Police had flagged the blockage as a ‘police incident’ but it was revealed to be a protest, led by environmental activists Extinction Rebellion who were lobbying against the government’s use of fossil fuels.

Extinction Rebellion protesters Justice and Jupiter block off a Riverside Expressway exit on Wednesday morning.

According to police, the women used locks and chains around their necks to attach themselves onto temporary fencing on the Turbot St on-ramp.

About a dozen other protesters gathered around in support of them.

Two women have been arrested following a protest on the Turbot St on-ramp.

The two women received fines and a scathing assessment of their “thoughtless” behaviour which held up an estimated 9000 people.

Justice Rosanna Cambridge, 26, and Ella Paterson Minton, 19, both pleaded guilty to obstructing traffic and contravening a police direction after refusing to sign bail documents in the watchhouse.

Acting Magistrate Paul Byrne said the activists had inconvenienced roughly 9000 vehicles during the 20 minute protest.

“I hope that none of the individuals were, for example, in the back of an ambulance, car locked as it were, that is not available to use another route,” he said while sentencing Cambridge.

“What a hell of a lot of impost.”

The pair who were arrested were taken into police custody about 8:20am.

Mr Bryne talso ook issue with Cambridge’s demeanour during her appearance in Brisbane Magistrates Court.

“She still seems very amused with herself, and quite pleased with herself actually,” he said.

Her Legal Aid lawyer Elliot Boddice said his client was “sincerely apologetic” to anyone inconvenienced by the protest.

“Climate change is something that my client feels passionately about,” he said.

Cambridge was fined $1050 for both offences.

Paterson Minton was fined $550. Neither woman had previous criminal history and no convictions were recorded for the breaches.

Two women have been arrested following a protest on the Turbot St on-ramp.