Charges laid against climate activists who caused ‘major traffic delays’, suspending themself from a pole

Charges have been laid following a co-ordinated climate protest across the country where activists suspended on tall poles had to be extracted via cherry pickers.

Charges have been laid after climate activists staged co-ordinated protests across three states, plunging traffic into chaos after suspending themselves off of tall poles and blocking major roads.

Protesters from Blockade Australia gathered at the Port of Newcastle, the Port of Brisbane and the Port of Melbourne on Monday in a “co-ordinated response to Australia’s destruction of the global climate”.

The individuals suspended atop the large poles at the three sites livestreamed their protests to Facebook, while at least one of the protesters has since been charged.

Brisbane road users were plagued by “major traffic delays” on Monday morning after a 23-year-old Mount Gravatt East woman strung herself atop a large pole, blocking traffic.

Charges have been laid against a 23-year-old woman following the protest in Queensland. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Queensland Police said they had responded to a protest on Export and Pritchard Streets at around 8am which had caused “major traffic delays and congestion”.

They took the protester, who Blockade Australia referred to as Jem, into custody about 9.40am.

During her livestream, the young activist said Australians needed to “mobilise together” to fight climate change.

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

Queensland Police said she had been charged with one count each of unregulated high-risk activities, trespassing, committing public nuisance, pedestrian causing an obstruction, contravening direction and using dangerous attachment devices to interfere with transport.

She is due to appear at Wynnum Magistrates Court on July 24.

The protest in Queensland caused major traffic delays. Picture: Facebook

The activist conducting an “unauthorised” protest on the rail corridor in Kooragang was taken to a nearby police station, following an operation to safely bring them to the ground.

“About 7.15am today, emergency services were called to a rail line on Wagtail Way Kooragang, following reports a group had gathered at the location, including (an individual) who had suspended (themselves) from a pole,” police said.

“Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District are in attendance, with assistance from Police Rescue.”

Transport NSW said no traffic was affected by the Port of Newcastle protest, while the protester was brought down from their pole at around 10.30am.

The 22-year-old has been charged with cause obstruction to railway locomotive and enter inclosed lands give rise to serious risk to safety.

She was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday.

The co-ordinated protests were conducted at major ports across the country. Picture: Facebook

The protester, referred to as Raffi online, could be heard saying on their livestream they were unable to come down themselves, meaning officials had to “come up” and bring them down from the pole.

They said they were only “scared” about the future impacts of climate change, despite their arms becoming locked in a metal pole at one point during the protest.

It is believed they were suspended above the rail line at Wagtail Way in Kooragang for about three hours.

The protester was believed to be suspended above the rail line at Wagtail Way, Kooragang for three hours. Picture: Facebook

There were massive delays in the area of the Port of Brisbane Motorway protest. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Brad Homewood, the 50-year-old protester suspended at the Port of Melbourne, said he was taking action against the Australian institutions which are a “core part of the problem”.

“This system is doing exactly what it was set up to do, extract and exploit with a callous disregard for all forms of life,” he said.

“You can’t solve a problem with the same thinking that created it, we can’t vote our way out of this mess.

“The system cannot fix the system”.

Brad Homewood said he planned to eat a block of vegan chocolate after he was brought down from the pole in Melbourne. Picture: Facebook

Mr Homewood was extracted from his pole via cherry picker about 10am, saying on the livestream he had a “whole block of vegan chocolate” he planned to eat post-descent.

Victoria Police said Mr Homewood was the “single protester” at the site and police had been in the area “to ensure there (were) no breaches of the peace”.

Appleton Dock Road was closed in both directions for several hours while police did not confirm whether charges were laid against the protester.

Mr Homewood atop his protest pole. Picture: Twitter

Blockade Australia said Monday morning’s activities were a “co-ordinated response to Australia’s destruction of the global climate”, with the country acting as an “exploitative coloniser”.

“(We are) directly standing in the way of effective and necessary action to mitigate the disastrous effects on the climate. (And) on stolen lands”.