Fireproof Australia protesters block Sydney traffic at Spit Bridge

Three people have been charged over a protest on the Spit Bridge at Mosman that disrupted peak hour traffic on Monday.

Three people have been charged over a protest on the Spit Bridge at Mosman that disrupted peak hour traffic on Monday.

A 32-year-old man and two women, aged 31 and 68, were among the seven people removed from the bridge about 8.30am.

The trio were taken to Manly Police Station where they were charged with refusing to comply with a direction and wilfully preventing free passage of a person/vehicle.

All three charged are due to face Manly Local Court today.

It comes as a Northern Beaches MP lashed out at the Fireproof Australia protesters who blocked peak hour traffic at the Spit Bridge on Monday.

Mackellar MP Jason Falinski said that obstructing traffic on a major arterial road at peak hour was not an act of free speech and called on the federal election candidates the group.

NSW Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward, who was among commuters held up on the Spit Bridge this morning, also labelled the protest as “extremely selfish”.

“We are fed up and we have had enough,” said Ms Ward.

The group of five protesters sat on Spit Rd and held up banners from 8.30am on Monday, before being removed by police and the vital link road was fully reopened to traffic at 8.56am.

A passer-by to today’s drama assisted the police in dismantling the protest by ripping away the protesters’ signs.

Fireproof Australia have once again blocked the spit bridge.

“The people who they (Fireproof Australia) are supporting for the federal election need to come out and condemn it (the protests) and not continue to play footsie with them,” Jason Falinski told The Daily Telegraph.

“The … justice system needs to see this for what it is, an overseas-coordinated and funded campaign of disruption, trying to bring certain parts of Sydney to their knees,” Mr Falinski told the Daily Telegraph.

“There’s a famous Supreme Court Justice who once said to cry fire in a crowded theatre is not free speech. To block a major arterial road in peak hour is not free speech,” said the MP.

“The best way to stop this is at the ballot box,” said Mr Falinski.

Independent candidate for Mackellar Sophie Scamps said: “I strongly condemn the protests held today at the Spit Bridge.

“These protests are counterproductive and will harm support for climate action in Australia,” she said.

“This protest will simply help climate deniers and harm those who are trying to deliver improved climate policies in Australia.”

As well as causing major gridlocks on both sides of the bridge, the blockade also disrupted local businesses at The Spit including the Learn to Paddle Now swim school.

Nicci Vesely, whose family runs the small business, said this morning’s action resulted in the cancellation of a kayak session and disappointed customers.

“We had a session planned today and had clients who were stuck in traffic and unfortunately missed it,” she said.

Nicci Vesely, whose family runs Learn to Paddle Now Mosman, said the climate road action impacted her business. She is not a member of the protest group.

Fireproof Australia have today, once again, blockaded the Spit Bridge in Sydney's North, demanding that the survivors of bushfires and floods be rehomed immediately. #LargeAirTankers#SmokeFiltersForSchools#RehomeBushfireSurvivors

Media Release: https://t.co/oD7ueDwkJ4pic.twitter.com/jnxvhgp2Wv

— Fireproof Australia (@fireproofaus) March 13, 2022

We shouldn’t be surprised that this has happened again.

Last time people working on the Climate 200 campaign endorsed it.

They just don’t get the lives of working Australians who are just trying to get their children to school and put food on the table.

(Manly Observer 📸) pic.twitter.com/HfgNQbVG6Z

— Jason Falinski MP - For The Beaches (@JasonFalinskiMP) March 13, 2022

Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward was among commuters held up on the Spit Bridge this morning.

“It made me really angry for all those people just trying to get to work and get their kids to school,” said the Minister in a press conference this morning.

“It is extremely selfish. We are fed up and we have had enough,” said Ms Ward.

The Minister responded to questions on whether the penalties for these protesters were enough to deter another disruption.

“It doesn’t seem to be for these people. We need to do more to prevent them from taking these selfish steps,” she said.

“Those selfish protesters need to stop, there’s other ways to get your messages out. I am furious they would again take those steps after the disruption we have had,” said Ms Ward.

Fireproof Australia Protesters blocking main roads.

Fireproof Australia, who have blocked Sydney traffic on three previous occasions, are demanding a fireproof and floodproof nation, calling on the Australian Government to respond to the climate crisis.

They posted on social media during the disruption, listing their demands to the Australian Government regarding bushfire management and prevention measures.

The group has previously brought Sydney traffic to a standstill on Tuesday, 22 February and again on Thursday, 10 March.