New parliament protest planned by Extinction Rebellion after chaotic Morphett St bridge stunt
Security will be increased outside Parliament House for another climate change protest today, after a stunt delayed CBD traffic for an hour and sparked fury.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Fears of property damages at a new climate protest on Thursday has put authorities on high alert as security is beefed up in the wake of a chaotic, and universally condemned, city stunt.
Parliamentary authorities are “concerned” about possible damage and police have warned of charges for any illegal acts when Extinction Rebellion demonstrates at Parliament House on Thursday.
While organisers deny any illegal actitivies, and have been in discussions with police, authorities have sought additional security over what officials say is possible damage to the building facade and steps from glue and other solvents.
The new warnings emerged after a climate change protester was charged after causing peak-hour traffic chaos when she suspended herself from a major city bridge.
It was condemed by Police Commissioner Grant Stevens and senior government ministers including Premier Peter Malinauskas and his deputy Susan Close.
An SA Police spokesman said there was a planned, co-ordinated security plan with adequate resources deployed to manage protests and other officers on standby.
The spokesman said officers had no problem with protests, it must be legal and costs maybe recouped.
“For protesters that purposely obstruct a public place, (we) may consider civil or criminal action against those individuals,” he said.
Lower House speaker Dan Cregan added: “The Sergent-at-Arms is liaising directly with South Australia Police and Protective Services to ensure all appropriate security arangements are in place.”
A group spokeswoman said Thursday’s protest would be safe and peaceful.
“There’s no need for anyone to worry,” she said. “I guarentee that. It’s a different vibe.”
Police and a fire crew were called to the Morphett St bridge where Meme Thorne was dangling from the side above North Tce to protest a lack of climate change action.
She was joined by about 40 more Extinction Rebellion protesters on the ground just before 7.30am.
Ms Thorne, 69, of Willunga, said she engaged in the dangerous stunt to draw attention to issues surrounding fossil fuels.
Following her arrest, she was charged with one count of obstructing a public place.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said: “I don’t know who Extinction Rebellion is persuading when they pull stunts, like the one they have this morning.
“I mean, whose hearts and minds are they winning through this sort of action? I don’t think many at all. In fact, I think they actually do the cause they seek to represent, harm.
“And I find that frustrating.”
Police Comissioner Grant Stevens slammed the “selfish” actions of the protesters on FIVEaa.
“I can guarantee people that we’re taking this very seriously and we’ll be making sure that we hold these people to account for the disruption they cause,” he said.
“I fully support their right to protest … but there’s a way to do it to get your message across and there’s a way to do it and piss people off.”
Mr Stevens, who said he had to keep his fury in check at the protest, said the MFS were called to remove the protester safely.
“The ropes are fully extended across the street,” he said.
“So we can’t, as much as we might like to, cut the rope and let them drop.”
He later said he found it “very frustrating that people act in such a selfish and reckless way that has the potential to impact on so many people who are trying to get on with their normal activity”.
The stunt forced police to close traffic on the bridge and lanes were blocked under it.
The protester was brought down by fire fighters just before 9am after more than an hour of disruption.
Mr Stevens said the protesters were doing harm to their cause.
“The irony is we got people stuck in traffic with their cars running probably for 45 minutes longer than they ordinarily would, so that’s good for the climate,” he said.
Energy minister Tom Koutsantonis, who spoke at the conference this morning, slammed the actions of protesters.
“They’ve chosen to protest on a feeder road that leads to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, there are people probably going into day surgery, change of shift, let alone the way ambulances are getting in and out and the inconvenience they are putting on the people of South Australia is by far the most insulting thing they’ve done,” he told ABC radio.
Mr Koutsantonis said the protesters were welcome to protest outside the conference and had to right to do so, but their methods were “reckless”.
“They should know better. If you care about your fellow man and your fellow woman, then you care about our state.
“You don’t block roads leading to hospitals. You don’t keep ICU workers in a car when they haven’t slept for 24 hours. You don’t inconvenience them from going to work or going to school, it’s silly.
“Hanging off the Morphett St bridge doesn’t do a thing to decarbonise the state, nothing.”
Multiple ICU workers told how their travel times were impacted due to the protest.
Dean, who had finished a night shift in ICU at the North Adelaide Hospital, said he had been awake for 24 hours.
He said he left the hospital at 7.20am and still was not home at almost 8.45am.
The protesters also delayed the arrival of some prisoners from the the Adelaide Remand Centre to court hearings at the Samuel Way Building.
Extinction Rebellion spokeswoman, Kate Mettam, 67, defended the extreme protest stunt.
“Meme’s life is hanging by a thread, by a lifeline, and we say that the future of the planet is hanging by a thread.”
“Our state government declared a climate emergency last year and (now) they’re holding a coal and oil gas conference.”
Ms Mettam said the traffic delay was a “minor inconvenience,” compared to the irreparable damage of climate change.
“What is coming and what is already happening is major disruption,” she said.
“Disruption is fleeing from a bushfire, disruption is what’s happening in the Congo with people dying in floods. Disruption is what is happening in Siberia. Elderly people cannot leave their house in time and they’ve been burned to death in their house.”
The group of protesters were heard chanting: “No more gas, no more oil, keep the carbon in the soil.”
Northbound traffic on Morphett Street was diverted east-west at Currie Street, while eastbound on North Terrace (from Port Road) was diverted down West Terrace during the incident.
The Extinction Rebellion group of about 40 people were protesting against the APPEA oil and gas industry conference at the Convention Centre.
During the protest, around seven fire crews and more than 15 police officers (six on horses), were at the scene attempting to remove Ms Thorne and to ensure the protest remained peaceful.
Officers and fire crews were able to safely remove to Ms Thorne off the bridge at about 8.50am, using a fire truck.
Ms Thorne was quickly escorted by the road by officers and arrested, while protesters applauded and chanted.
She is due to appear in court later today.
Originally published as New parliament protest planned by Extinction Rebellion after chaotic Morphett St bridge stunt
Join the conversation
Rising to the Peak: Secretary’s powerful political ascension begins
The “shoppies” union top job was a springboard to political power for Don Farrell then Peter Malinauskas, now a new face has won the coveted role of ALP state president.
Read more
Street of horror: Shootings, decay, syringes – life in SA’s war zone
The Advertiser goes deep inside a notorious SA street where parents won’t let their kids play, gunshots echo through the night and abandoned houses draw criminals from around the city.
Read more