Climate protesters shut down Port of Brisbane Motorway

An alleged climate activist has been charged after a peak-hour protest that blocked traffic for hours and and caused massive disruption around Port of Brisbane.

• Activists slammed: Protests halt Aussie ports

A woman has been charged following a climate protest that shut down a major Brisbane motorway for hours this morning.

Police took the 23-year-old Mount Gravatt East woman into custody about 9.40am and have cleared the Port of Brisbane Motorway.

Traffic chaos as Port of Brisbane Motorway shut down by protesters on Monday morning. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

The woman was subsequently charged with one count each of unregulated high-risk activities, trespass, committing public nuisance, pedestrians causing an obstruction, contravening direction and using dangerous attachment device to interfere with transport, and is due to appear at Wynnum Magistrates court on July 24.

The protest caused massive delays for heavy vehicles trying to access Port of Brisbane. PicturePicture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Officers were initially called about 8am after activists blocked the road and one protester scaled a pole, impacting all in- and outbound lanes.

Blockade Australia took to social media to announce their protest.

A protester scaled a pole, forcing the closure of the Port of Brisbane Motorway.

“A local person has scaled a mono pole crossing all lanes entering and exiting the Brisbane Port halting the exportation of climate destruction,” Blockade Australia wrote.

“There is no denying that we, on this continent and around the world, are currently seeing the collapse of the climate right before our eyes. “Australia”, as an exploitative coloniser, is directly standing in the way of effective and necessary action to mitigate the disastrous effects on the climate.

“On the stolen lands of the Quandamooka peoples.”

A Blockade Australia activist clinking to a mono pole blocking all lanes to the Port of Brisbane. Picture: Supplied

A protester recorded herself at the top of a bamboo pole in the middle of the road, blocking four lanes of traffic.

“I’m doing this because this system of exploitation of endless expansion is not sustainable, it’s driving the climate collapse,” she said.

“That’s why we need to mobilise together.”

She appeared to ingore officers’ attempts to end the protest.

“Cops are trying to have a conversation, I’m not particularly interested,” she said on the livestream.

The Port of Brisbane Motorway has been blocked by climate protesters.

The Brisbane protest is one of multiple happening at ports around the country, including in Newcastle and Melbourne.

“I’m doing this because I care. I’m doing this because I love the planet,” Jem said.

“Because I know that we can’t trust what the system says.”

Deputy Premier Steven Miles pleaded with activists to consider how their actions impact Queenslanders.

“Everyone has a right to protest and a right to free speech,” he said.

“However, we would urge protestors to take into account the impact you’re having on your fellow Queenslanders and protest in ways that minimises that impact.”

Originally published as Climate protesters shut down Port of Brisbane Motorway