A climate activist caused peak-hour disruptions on Brisbane’s Victoria Bridge this morning after suspending herself from a large tripod and calling for urgent action on carbon emissions.
ABC reports the demonstration impacted traffic in both directions across the bridge, marking the latest in a string of Extinction Rebellion protests targeting the roadway.
Climate protest on Victoria Bridge this morning. Video supplied. @brisbanetimes pic.twitter.com/aGq5CbIvYm
— Lydia Lynch (@LydiaLynch101) September 29, 2019
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3AuBzhnFt_/
The woman, who identified herself in a Facebook livestream as a midwife, declared “climate denial is child abuse.”
“At the moment, the Queensland government is acting in denial by not properly taking a stronger stance on this climate emergency,” she added.
Queensland Police Service officers attended the scene, eventually convincing the protestor to lower herself from the makeshift structure.
A police spokesperson confirmed to PEDESTRIAN.TV the woman was arrested, but has not yet been charged with any offences.
Traffic has now resumed across the bridge.
UPDATE: The bridge has been reopened with traffic returning to normal.
— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) September 29, 2019
The protest comes after a period of concentrated Extinction Rebellion protest action on Brisbane roadways.
Last month, Labor Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced new powers for police to search protesters suspected of carrying locking devices used to affix individuals to each other or to roadways, after demonstrators reportedly glued themselves to Countess Street.
