Blockade Australia: Names behind second day of CBD disruption revealed, 74-year-old bailed

The next batch of Blockade Australia activists arrested after allegedly disrupting the city have been revealed in court, including a 74-year-old grandma.

The next batch of climate activists who allegedly disrupted Sydney’s CBD on Tuesday can be revealed, as all nine of them fronted court.

One appeared in floods of tears from custody, telling the court all he did was “listen to the scientists” – proclaiming his arrest was “messed up”.

The most recent batch to of protesters arrested and charged included a 74-year-old grandma and a 28-year-old from Tasmania as their identities were revealed.

Anthony Buckingham, 23, Barney Jackson, 25, Greg Rolles, 40, Anthony Gleeson, 69, Elizabeth Hartrick, 74, Margaret Pestorius and Kirsten Hoffman all appeared on videolink from custody at Surry Hills police station at Central Local Court, represented by former-Dateline journalist and now lawyer Mark Davis.

Joseph Rohan, 28, Alister Ferguson, 51 also appeared from custody, represented by Joseph Harb.

Police and protesters on Macquarie St towards William St in the CBD to protest against climate action in Sydney. Picture: Gaye Gerard.

Each had been charged with obstructing a pedestrian’s and driver’s path, and wilfully preventing free passage of a person or vehicle. No pleas have been entered.

It was an interstate affair, too – with over half the accused coming from outside NSW.

Rohan is from Boomer Bay in Tasmania, Hartrick, Gleeson, Jackson are from Victoria, while Rolles is from Queensland.

Bail was granted with conditions to each of the accused with the exception of Rohan, with police opposing bail due to a risk of repeat offending.

Blockade Australia supporters outside Central Local Court on June 27 with a banner: "Business as usual = death". Picture: NewsLocal

As part of their bail, each of the defendants must not enter the CBD unless for court, all must possess no more than one mobile, they can’t use an encryption device or platform, and each was given a long list of non-association of other Blockade Australia members, which wasn’t detailed in full in court.

Ferguson appeared in floods of tears from his holding cell, calling his arrest “messed up”.

“We’re good people and this is what you do to us,” he said in tears.

“This is messed up – all we’ve done is listen to the scientists.”

Police and protesters in the CBD on June 28. Picture: Gaye Gerard.

Davis said each of his seven clients had refused police bail due to onerous conditions, including being prohibited from driving any vehicle and having all their electronic devices confiscated. He called the situation “absurd”.

“It’s a complete waste of the court’s time and resources by the police,” Mr Davis said.

“We’re having to fight for fair bail like it’s a life or death struggle.

“Each of these people are clearly entitled to bail, they’ve got very few offences on their record, and every one of them is kept in police custody and kept overnight.”

Lawyer Mark Davis, former Dateline journalist, represented some of the accused.

The arrests come after a second day of CBD disruption allegedly orchestrated by the organisation.

Around 8am on June 28, emergency services were called to the intersection of William and Palmer streets at Woolloomooloo, responding to reports a group of protesters had allegedly entered the intersection and were disrupting traffic.

Officers from Strike Force Guard moved quickly to arrest the protesters, who were taken to a nearby police custody bus for processing.

The protesters were taken to Surry Hills Police Station, where charges were laid.

Police in the CBD during the protest on June 28. Picture: Gaye Gerard.

Commander of Strike Force Guard, acting assistant commissioner Paul Dunstan, said the force had no regrets for the arrests and policing.

“The New South Wales Police Force makes no apologies for the arrests of individuals who are seeking to disrupt the livelihood of Sydneysiders going about their daily business, by engaging in unlawful behaviour,” he said.

“We have well documented processes in place to facilitate lawful demonstrations, but when protesters choose to ignore those rules, we will act swiftly and take action to prevent those unlawful demonstrations interfering with and disrupting traffic.”

Each of the accused will return to court next month.