Three Extinction Rebellion members face south coast court after NSW MP Andrew Constance protest
An Extinction Rebellion member refused to sign his bail in protest after climbing on NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance’s office and shutting down the main street of Bega.
The South Coast News
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Supporters have thrown their support behind three members of the global environmental movement Extinction Rebellion as they faced court charged with multiple offences.
Grandfather Andrew James Turnbull, 28-year-old Jarrad Hollinger and 21-year-old Eric Serge Herbert faced Bega Local Court on Tuesday charged with multiple offences stemming from the protest outside Bega Liberal MP and NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constances office on June 8.
They are among five people arrested by police during the protest last week, after using what the three say was non-violent civil disobedience hoping to trigger government action on climate change and biodiversity loss in order to avoid the risk of social and ecological collapse.
As many as 20 supporters of the three men held signs reading “drop the charges” and “who are the real criminals” outside the courthouse on Tuesday.
One of the supporters outside the courthouse, Melbourne resident Andy George, said he was there to “support climate defenders”.
“I think it’s an outrage that people trying to protect our world are charged with things like intimidation when our government is failing us,” he said.
Outside court, Mr Hollinger, from Tarraganda, described himself as a “man of few words”, adding he was driven to take part in the protest to raise awareness around environmental and social issues.
“I personally believe we are heading towards the Earth’s sixth mass extinction event and half the world is facing starvation,” he said.
“It is time to stand up to our government, who are doing nothing about the climate emergency.
“Historically, the best course of action for social movements has been civil disobedience, and mass obstruction. It brings change.”
Mr Hollinger said police shut down the main street of Bega for as long as six hours as they tried to remove him and Herbert from the roof of Mr Constance’s office.
“Our initial expectation was that we wouldn’t have any disruption, but the police helped with what I think was an over-reaction,” Mr Hollinger said.
He has been charged with using intimidation to unlawfully influence a person, entering enclosed land without a lawful excuse, refusing to comply with a direction, risking the safety of another by climbing onto a building and wilfully obstructing a police officer in the execution of duty.
He is yet to enter a plea, and said outside court he was hoping to have police withdraw the charge of intimidation.
Mr Hollinger said the support outside the courthouse was “amazing”, and that the group is hoping to become more organised in the region.
“We really want everyone to feel supported,” he said.
Herbert, who was charged with the same offences as Mr Hollinger, pleaded guilty on Tuesday via audio video link after being held in custody since his arrest, and was convicted and fined $2700 by Magistrate Doug Dick.
Before appearing in court, Mr Turnbull said he had dressed in black to express his “mourning” for his grandchildren’s future.
Police allege the Tarraganda grandfather, 63, superglued his hand to the Bega MP’s office on June 8.
“I choose to be arrested,” Mr Turnbull said.
“There are a lot of people who don’t get the choice, and each cell I was in had a small First Nations flag scratched into the paint.
“It is the First Nations people who choose not to be arrested and need care not custody. That’s because people die in custody. So, I’m also mourning for those people.
“Shame on the people in power who do nothing to help the treatment of First Nations people and the climate.”
Mr Turnbull has been charged with damaging property, refusing to comply with a police direction, wilfully preventing free passage of a person, using intimidation to unlawfully influence a person, refusing to comply with directions and hindering police in the execution of duty.
He is also yet to enter a plea.
Mr Hollinger and Mr Turnbull will face Bega Local Court on June 29.
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