Tempers heat up over climate protest

More than 70 climate change proteste­rs arrested as rally blocked Brisbane’s political precinct.

Eric Herbert, centre, and other Extinction Rebellion protesters march down Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall yesterday. Picture: AAP

More than 70 climate change proteste­rs were charged by police yesterday after the “Rebellion Day” rally blockaded Brisbane’s political precinct and brought traffic to a standstill.

The activists gathered at Queensland’s Parliament House before descending on William Street — home to the government’s executive building — before­ the peak-hour rush.

Police managed to keep the hundreds of protesters confined to the closed William Street for most of the day, but the crowd surged onto nearby streets severa­l times, prompting arrests.

Organisers from the Extinct­ion Rebellion group said disruption was key to influencing gov­ern­me­nts and corporations to change their policies to prevent a mass extinction.

The government offices were blockaded by protesters for most of the day, with a makeshift stage and market stalls contributing to a festival-like atmosphere.

Throughout the day, 72 people aged between 18 and 73 were arreste­d and charged with off­ences including contravening a police direction, obstructing traffic, obstructing police and breach of peace. Several of the arrests led to cheers from the crowd.

IT worker Josh Woods, 23, said the protests were the only way to make politicians listen to the group’s concerns.

“I’ve taken the day off from my nine to five because I think it’s reall­y important and it’s expected (that) by 2050, civilisation as we know it will drastically change, and a lot of jobs will go, a lot of people will be displaced and temperatures will rise,” he said.

Driver Jan Langford, who was blocked for 20 minutes, said the protesters were “self-indulgent”.

“I’ve only seen certain individuals walking past here and they don’t look like the kind of people who are contributing too much to the economy,” Mr Langford said.

“They find it all right to halt people from working and stopping people from generating the income tax that’s going to contribute­ to their dole money. I get that people are upset about climate change, but maybe they should be protesting to God.”

Extinction Rebellion spokeswoman Isabelle Harland, 23, of northern NSW, told The Australian she believed the disruptive protests were getting people to listen. “This is how change happens, through civil disobedience.”

Greens senator Larissa Waters and Brisbane City councillor Jona­than Sri took to the stage to thank the crowd and encourage further civil disobedience.

“It’s about time our political institutions represented the communities they are elected to represent,” Senator Waters said. “It is cutting through. We are now having discussions in the federal parliament because of what you are doing here today, so keep going.”