Blockade Australia protests: Eight people charged after Harbour Tunnel and CBD protests

The names and faces allegedly behind Blockade Australia’s Harbour Tunnel and CBD shutdown yesterday have been revealed as the organisation promises more disruption.

The names and faces allegedly behind Blockade Australia’s Harbour Tunnel and CBD protests yesterday, which halted hundreds of morning commuters’ path into the city in 45 minutes of chaos, can be revealed.

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

All of those charged were granted conditional bail, which wasn’t opposed by the police prosecutor.

Mali Cooper pictured leaving Surry Hills Police Station on June 28. Picture: David Swift

Each person has been charged with entering the Sydney Harbour Bridge and disrupting vehicles. McDonald-Eckersall, Sleiman, Lim and Lancaster have also been charged with obstructing driver’s/other pedestrians‘ path and wilfully preventing free passage, while Oswald has also been charged with obstruction and Monroe preventing free passage.

It comes after new protest laws came into effect in April, aimed at deterring protests that disrupt roads, ports and other infrastructure with penalties of up to $22,000 or two years’ jail.

Blockade Australia member and spokeswoman Catherine, who didn’t provide her last name, was part of a 15-person strong group of activists outside Central Local Court to support the arrested protesters. She said the organisation’s activism would only be emboldened by the arrests.

“We’re here today because people who are undertaking nonviolent protests to bring about climate action are being treated like criminals,” she said.

Brad Homewood leaves custody after being granted bail on June 28. Picture: David Swift

Homewood told reporters outside he has 72 hours to leave the state. Picture: David Swift

“They’re being policed in a way that would suggest they are terrorists.

“This is overreach – it‘s overreach by the police and it’s overreach by the state.”

Catherine said an unnecessary amount of resources were being wasted on arresting Blockade Australia activists.

“The extraordinary amount of resources that they’ve thrown at this and the response by the police – intimidation was clearly the aim,” she said.

“If the state is not prepared to stand up and take proper action on climate, they are leaving people with no option but to go to extremes.”

The eight defendants were all released on bail with conditions: all must reside at their home address, each can only enter NSW to attend court (unless they live there), each must possess no more than one mobile phone, and all must not associate or contact a list of specified Blockade Australia members.

Cooper, who police allege tied herself to a car in the Harbour Tunnel, was supported in court by her mother and grandmother. Due to what police allege was a more severe offence, Cooper is also subject to triweekly police reporting at Lismore police station and a home curfew between the hours of 10pm to 6am. She also is forbidden from owning an encryption device or platform, such as WhatsApp.

Oswald, the court heard, also has a 10pm to 6am home curfew and must report twice weekly to Morpeth police station.

The Sydney-based protesters – Lim and Sleiman – both are restricted from entering the CBD as part of the bail conditions. However, Lim will be allowed to attend Belvoir St Theatre in Surry Hills, where she is employed in the box office, for designated work shifts.

Jamika Lancaster being met by supporters after he release from custody on June 28. Picture: David Swift

Blockade Australia protesters are released on bail from Surry Hills Police Station on June 28. Pictured is Isabel Sleiman (right). Picture: David Swift

The arrests come after the activists allegedly blocked one of the main arteries into the city yesterday.

NSW Police made a total of 10 arrests following the protests, with two as of yet unnamed protesters appearing at a different court at a later date.

Emergency services were called to the northern entrance of the Sydney Harbour Tunnel at North Sydney, responding to reports a woman had allegedly stopped her car, blocking all city-bound lanes.

Harley McDonald-Eckersall is released from Surry Hills Police Station after being arrested during the Harbour Tunnel protest. Picture: Gaye Gerard.

The woman then allegedly put a bicycle lock around her neck and attached herself to the steering wheel.

Police officers were quickly on the scene, removed her from the vehicle and arrested her.

Around the same time, about 60 people who police allege were part of an unauthorised protest walked on the streets of the Sydney CBD, interfering with the flow of traffic.

Protesters march through Sydney's CBD disrupting the traffic as part of Blockade Australia protests on June 27. Picture: Jeremy Piper,

Commander of Strike Force Guard, acting assistant commissioner Paul Dunstan said police would continue to maintain a highly visible presence in response to the expected protest activity this week.

“It is unacceptable that a small number of people – who have little to no regard for everyday individuals going about their lives, are causing unnecessary disruptions to their morning commute,” acting assistant commissioner Dunstan said.

The eight protesters were released on bail. None have yet entered a plea and will return to court on July 19.