Arrests as Rising Tide protesters shut down roads at Parliament House
At least a dozen protesters have been arrested in wild scenes outside Parliament House as Rising Tide activists switch their attention from Newcastle to Canberra and politicians condemn their actions.
NSW
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The roving protesters who blockaded Newcastle coal port have been slammed after taking their action to the capital, with calls for states across Australia to ramp up their penalties against law-breakers.
Environmental protest group Rising Tide – who had more than 170 members arrested at Newcastle over the weekend – had dozens of members detained again in Canberra on Wednesday, after they blocked roads and staged a sit-down in the main public foyer of Parliament House.
Police made at least 22 arrests at the Canberra action, with a Rising Tide spokesman confirming hundreds had travelled to the capital from their Newcastle blockade as part of a 10-day series of rallies.
As New South Wales remained on the brink of power shortages throughout Wednesday afternoon, serial protesters chanted against new coal or gas projects on the lawns of Parliament, with police picking up and carrying members of the group away who sat down on roads during the rally.
Nationals leader David Littleproud slammed the action, saying “The waste of police resources on these activities is appalling”.
“The fact is we’re short of police as it is, and this defers resources away from life and death situations,” he said.
“States need to crack down on this. If there’s no deterrent, we’re going to continue to see it.”
He said convictions needed to be recorded against those caught breaking the law, saying if penalties impeded their ability to travel overseas, it may curb serial, unlawful protesting.
With NSW residents warned not to run their washing machines or dishwashers on Wednesday afternoon due to power shortages, Mr Littleproud said protesters against baseload power were showing “where their ideology doesn’t meet practical reality”.
CHARITY STATUS
A spokesman from Rising Tide told The Daily Telegraph said the group had requested a meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese – which wasn’t granted – with the protest breaking out because the “government … turned its back on young people”.
Roads were temporarily closed to traffic within the Parliamentary precinct due to the action, while the main entrance to Parliament’s public foyer was also closed after dozens of Rising Tide members staged a sit-down protest inside it.
The group claimed up to 60 members were involved in the sit-down protest, saying those involved were hit with three month bans from parliament.
The event in the capital was part of a 10-day series of actions by the protest pests, including their flotilla at Newcastle.
Hundreds of members are expected to take to the lawns of parliament again on Thursday, before leaving on Friday.
ACT Police said they were monitoring any further action by the group and would respond as required.
“After rolling Blockade media coverage, we’ll ride the wave of media attention to Canberra. At Parliament House we’ll demand the PM answer: ‘When will you stop new coal and gas?’ in a peaceful, fun occupation,” the group’s website stated ahead of the action.
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