Greenpeace activists scale Harbour Bridge, demand climate action
Fifteen protesters have been charged after they scaled the Sydney Harbour Bridge and demanded Prime Minister Scott Morrison declare a “climate emergency” before the federal election. Police say significant resources were diverted from other tasks to this incident.
Fifteen Greenpeace activists have been charged over an alleged four-hour protest against climate change policies on the Sydney Harbour Bridge this morning.
Police say the group were discovered on the walkway of the bridge by security personnel about 5.15am before they allegedly blocked security to allow six climbers to scale a fence and abseil below.
Officers from Sydney City Police District arrived on the scene and detained nine people while specialist officers from the Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit, PolAir, negotiators and water police were called in to remove the six abseilers from beneath the bridge.
The activists dangled under the structure for several hours, holding stark, red flags and banners which read “100% renewables”. By 9.30am the six people were lowered into police boats and arrested.
A NSW Police spokesman declined to say how much the rescue operation cost, but said “significant resources were diverted from other tasks to this incident.”
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According to the NSW Police Force’s list of recovery costs for hiring police resources for non-police services such as filming a movie or transport escorts, hiring a helicopter ranges from $3,392 per hour for a single engine squirrel helicopter to $5,312 per hour for a Bell 412Epi twin engine helicopter.
The official document shows watercraft range in price from $194 per hour for a pair of jet skis to $1,153 per hour for a class 1 (32 metre) watercraft for harbour use.
The Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit’s recovery costs are not listed.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific CEO David Ritter said the protest was a “wake up call to Mr Morrison”.
“Climate damage is happening right now,” Mr Ritter said.
“Australia is facing a climate emergency right now. Our political leaders must listen to those already affected by climate disaster and act”.
Another activist urged Mr Morrison to use the four days before the election to “listen”.
“Scott, The election is in four days time, right now all the polls say you’re going to lose,” he said.
“At the same time the majority of Australians want climate action and they want it now. So my message to Scott Morrison is, do it”.
“You’ve got four days to turn yourself in from an ordinary little leader in the world, into a global statesman of massive proportions”.
Ten men and five women were charged with several offences including risk safety of another by climbing structure, wilfully prevent free passage of person/vessel, climb on any part of a bridge and enter enclosed land without lawful excuse.
They have been granted bail to appear in court in June.
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