Driver fined, more protesters charged in second day of CBD climate protests

The man behind the wheel of a car seen ploughing into climate change protesters as they demonstrated in the centre of Sydney on Monday has been fined, while more protesters now face potential jail time after a second day of unauthorised action in the city on Tuesday.

Members of the Blockade Australia group met in Hyde Park about 8am before marching onto nearby streets, disrupting traffic in a bid to spread their message about the cost of climate inaction.

Police on duty at Hyde Park on Tuesday. Credit: Brook Mitchell

The disruption this time was short-lived. The group was met by a heavy police presence, forcing marchers off the road and onto the footpath, where 11 people were arrested. A shout of “spaghetti” was the cue for those who escaped the law to scarper back into the park.

Those arrested were taken to Surry Hills police station, where they were charged under tough new anti-protest laws aimed at deterring action that disrupts roads, ports and other infrastructure which include penalties of up to $22,000 or two years’ jail.

NSW Police said there are now 32 protesters who have been charged under Strike Force Guard, which was established in March to investigate and disrupt unauthorised protests across the state.

Police push back climate protestors as they attempt to block traffic in Sydney’s CBD.Credit: Nick Moir

The 10 who were charged on Monday – including 22-year-old Lismore resident Mali Cooper, who allegedly locked herself to a car’s steering wheel after blocking the Sydney Harbour Tunnel – appeared at Central Local Court on Tuesday.

All were granted bail under strict conditions, including a curfew between 10pm and 6am, a ban on entering the CBD except for attending court, and mobile phone restrictions preventing them from accessing encrypted messaging apps.

Police also confirmed that a 31-year-old man from Bondi, who was seen driving his vehicle into protesters on Monday, was issued a ticket for negligent driving, which attracts a fine of $465 and three demerit points.

A spokesman for Blockade Australia said the driving ticket demonstrates “how much more strongly police are repressing non-violent activists than people committing violence against them”.

Asked if the fine sends the right message, NSW Police Minister and Deputy Premier Paul Toole said police “will rightly take action in relation to any illegal acts that come to their attention”.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan, the commander of Strike Force Guard, said: “Community safety is our number one priority”. He also said the police force “makes no apologies for the arrests of individuals who are seeking to disrupt the livelihood of Sydneysiders going about their daily business, by engaging in unlawful behaviour.

“We have well documented processes in place to facilitate lawful demonstrations, but when protesters choose to ignore those rules, we will act swiftly and take action to prevent those unlawful demonstrations interfering with and disrupting traffic.”