Climate activist behind Harbour Tunnel stunt has ‘no regrets’

One of the protesters behind Monday’s traffic chaos in Sydney has doubled down on her decision to try and bring the city to a standstill.

A protester arrested after allegedly chaining herself to her car’s steering wheel and blocking entry to the Sydney Harbour Tunnel has claimed she has “no regrets” about the mayhem she caused.

Mali Cooper was among 10 people charged Monday evening in connection to a planned attempt by a climate activism group to “bring Australia’s largest city, Sydney, to a standstill”.

The 22-year-old live-streamed herself to the Blockade Australia Facebook page Monday morning inside her car with a bike lock looped around her neck and the steering wheel.

Furious members of the public could be seen approaching her window, with one angry man hurling abuse at her while she addressed viewers, telling them she had been living in Lismore during both major floods this year and had seen the devastation it caused.

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Mali Cooper told The Project she had no regrets about disrupting Sydney’s traffic on Monday. Picture: The Project/Channel 10

Ms Cooper was removed from the car by police and arrested, later being charged with wilfully preventing free passage of vehicles.

Despite major backlash from both the public and the law, Ms Cooper appeared on The Project Tuesday evening to defend her decision.

“I don’t regret anything,” she told panellist Peter Helliar, adding that she did however “feel nervous about what the future holds”.

“I don’t want to have to be in this position, I don’t want to be facing these things. I do understand the implications and the way forwards, and I think that it is so important that at this point in time that we don’t stay silent and that people speak up and speak out,” she said.

Host Kate Langbroek accused the activist of being “extremely divisive”.

Ms Cooper was grilled by Kate Langbroek. Picture: Channel 10

The Project panelist Georgie Tunny. Picture: Channel 10

“What do you think that your disruption has to do with climate change? People find you to be extremely divisive,” Langbroek said.

“You talk about privilege but the ultimate privilege was probably you deciding whether people could get to work or not?”

“There’s a bigger conversation that needs to happen about climate change and I think that not a lot of people get a chance to speak on national television about this really important situation that impacts all of us,” Ms Cooper shot back.

“I recognise my privilege in the world and I recognise that I’m privileged talking to you.

“It is so important that I am here and I am having this conversation and we open up a discussion about how we move forward and how we take steps to support our life systems, support one another and ensure that we take climate action.”

Ms Cooper could be fined up to $22,000 and face up to two years in prison if found guilty.

Ms Cooper live streamed her protest. Picture: Blockade Australia/Facebook

An angry man hurled abuse through the window. Picture: Blockade Australia/Facebook

It has also been revealed the young woman once pursued a career in modelling, having acquired a decent portfolio of work in her mid teens.

She was signed on with a top modelling agency until it shut down five years ago, Daily Mail reported.

A further 12 people were arrested on Tuesday as the group’s protesting continued, although the turnout was far smaller than what was seen on Monday.

Organisers urged followers to “rest and regroup” on Wednesday.

“We have made the call for tomorrow to be a day off,” Blockade Australia organisers posted on an encrypted message service last night, according to the Daily Telegraph.

“We want people to have a chance to rest, regroup and support one another.”

Protesters threw concrete blocks, garbage bins, bikes and ladders onto the city streets in an effort to disrupt traffic and delay police officers trying to put a stop to the protest.

“The behaviour of this group was nothing short of criminal activity,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan told reporters Monday afternoon.

He described the protesters’ behaviour as “incredibly dangerous, unacceptable” and “violent”.

There have been no reports of injuries at this stage.

NSW Police trailed the parade of protesters on foot and via a convoy of vehicles with sirens wailing, cleaning up after the protesters in an attempt to clear roads.

Police tried to stop protesters marching through the CBD. Picture NCA Newswire/Gaye Gerard

Fewer protesters took to the street on Tuesday. Picture NCA Newswire/Gaye Gerard

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet didn’t hold back in his criticism of the group when he wrote into 2GB radio station.

“These people are bloody idiots, and they will face the full force of the law,” Mr Perrottet said.

Protesters can be fined up to $22,000 and/or jailed for a maximum of two years for protesting illegally on public roads, rail lines, tunnels, bridges and industrial estates.

Blockade Australia spokesman Sally-Anne told reporters on Monday that she rejected claims that the protest was unauthorised.