Blockage Australia protesters blocking Sydney CDB streets to take rest day

They promised to wreak havoc on Sydney’s streets this week, but climate activists have run out of steam two days in, calling on supporters to skip today’s planned mayhem.

Climate activists have run out of steam two days into a week-long protest, calling on supporters to rest up after 11 were arrested on Tuesday and eight released on bail from Monday’s actions.

The decision to bail the activists has been lashed by NSW opposition police spokesman Walt Secord as an insult to hardworking police.

And while police increased their efforts on Tuesday, Blockade Australia was tuckered out by their two 45-minute protests.

“We have made the call for tomorrow to be a day off,” Blockade Australia organisers posted on an encrypted message service last night.

“We want people to have a chance to rest, regroup and support one another.”

A Blockade Australia protesters in Hyde Park on Tuesday. Picture: John Grainger

Police made 11 arrests on Tuesday. Picture: John Grainger

The rest day comes as a further 11 were arrested on Tuesday, in a near-replica protest to Monday’s.

Those 11 are expected to face similar charges as those who were granted bail at Central Local Court on Tuesday.

A strong police presence on Tuesday helped reduce the group’s impact on traffic on Tuesday. Picture: John Grainger

The decision to bail the ­alleged offenders was condemned by Mr Secord, who said the government had to “get serious” on troublemakers.

“I share the deep anger and frustration of hardworking police who spent weeks monitoring these people, then making arrests, only to see them walk free on bail just hours later,” he said.

“When is the Perrottet government going to get ­serious on the revolving door of bail in NSW?

“Several nights in a cold cell would have been preferable to bail for these characters.”

Victorians Brad Homewood, 49, Monro Monroe, 25, and Harley McDonald-Eckersall, 24, Queenslander ­Jemika Lancaster, 22, and NSW’s Mali Poppy Cooper, 22, Jack Oswald, 25, Su-Min Lim, 34, and Isabel Sleiman, 21, each appeared by video link at Central Local Court from a holding cell at Surry Hills police station for their alleged role in disrupting traffic on Monday.

All were granted conditional bail, which was not opposed by the police ­prosecutor. All were charged with entering the Sydney Harbour Bridge and disrupting vehicles.

McDonald-Eckersall, Sleiman, Lim and Lancaster have also been charged with obstructing drivers’/other pedestrians’ path and wilfully preventing free passage, while Oswald was also charged with obstruction and Monroe preventing free passage.

Cooper, who police allege chained herself to a car in the Harbour Tunnel using a bike lock, will also be subject to triweekly police reporting and a home curfew between 10pm and 6am. She also is forbidden from owning an encryption device or platform, such as WhatsApp.

Another two protesters arrested on Monday are yet to face court.

Police on Tuesday also confirmed a Bondi man, 31, had been fined $469 and three demerit points after driving his vehicle through Monday’s rally.

NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman accused Mr Secord of crying “crocodile tears”.

“He and the ALP tried to torpedo the government’s new protest laws in parliament with an amendment to carve out so-called peaceful protests from them,” he said.