Climate change activists have descended on Australian cities after threatening to cause mayhem over a week of protest.
Dozens showed up for the first day in Melbourne to occupy the steps of Parliament for an all-day sit-in.
Most were seated on the steps but a few brought deck chairs for a more comfortable protest on a drizzly day.
Climate change protesters sit outside Parliament House in the heart of Melbourne. Protests are planned throughout the week across the country
Dozens showed up for the first day in Melbourne to occupy the steps of Parliament for an all-day sit-in
Hundreds more marched through the CBD and at least 100 protesters are expected to camp each night in Melbourne’s Carlton Gardens
Hundreds more marched through the CBD and at least 100 protesters are expected to camp each night in Melbourne’s Carlton Gardens.
The corner of Flinders and Swanston streets could be blocked during Monday’s evening peak hour.
Protests in Brisbane and Canberra were more impressive with hundreds showing up to each one, but still fewer than past demonstrations.
The Brisbane march started in Musgrave Park and will end in Queens Gardens with a parade of activists holding signs, banners and flags.
They are also allegedly planning to disrupt air traffic at Brisbane Airport with drones, just like how Gatwick Airport near London was terrorised for days last year.
The corner of Flinders and Swanston streets could be blocked during Monday’s evening peak hour
Extinction Rebellion activists setup camp in Carlton Gardens in Melbourne on Monday. Extinction Rebellion has planned for disruptive actions planned throughout Melbourne in association with a global movement pushing for action against climate change
Extinction Rebellion activists also gathered outside Energy Australia’s office in Melbourne
Meanwhile, nearly 300 people marched across Canberra’s Commonwealth Bridge at the foot of Parliament House, demanding the Australian government do more to tackle climate change.
The event, disrupting public holiday traffic, was one of 60 actions by group Extinction Rebellion across global cities.
Organiser Jill Moran said Australia faced a ‘pretty grim’ future if nothing was done to stop global warming.
‘It’s not the type of future that I would want. Causing disruptive action is really our only choice,’ she said.
When asked about Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton’s suggestion climate protesters should be publicly shamed and have their welfare payments cut off, she pointed to the wide demographic at Monday’s march.
‘They love their stereotype of the 18-year-old something that doesn’t want to get a job. This goes across generations and it is bigger than that,’ she said.
A handful of activists put on a colourful display in northern Tasmania with the ‘Red Rebel Brigade’ posing in all-red attire with painted white faces at Dove Lake
Protesters block Lambton Quay as hundreds marched in the New Zealand capital of Wellington
The pink theme extended to a car (hopefully electric) and a banner held down with pot plants to block the road
Father of two, Bilal Nasir, was also at Monday’s rally with his wife, holding one of his kids as he marched towards the bridge.
‘[Climate change] is a bit of a worry,’ he said.
He said in his native Pakistan, glaciers were melting because of climate change, creating risks for people in riverside communities.
Extinction Rebellion’s ACT event coordinator Emma Roberts said disruption was important to get their message across.
‘The thing is, we’ve got nothing left, this is all we’ve got,’ she said.
‘I’m studying law, I’d love to be studying, I’d love to be able to focus on that, but the pollies aren’t doing their jobs.’
A handful of activists put on a colourful display in northern Tasmania with the ‘Red Rebel Brigade’ posing in all-red attire with painted white faces at Dove Lake.
In Adelaide, protesters will swarm on traffic hot spots and hold a ‘Block Party’ on Friday night, and started Monday with a bike ride
Protests in Brisbane were more impressive with hundreds showing up to each one, but still fewer than past demonstrations
The Brisbane march started in Musgrave Park and will end in Queens Gardens with a parade of activists holding signs, banners and flags
They are also allegedly planning to disrupt air traffic at Brisbane Airport with drones, just like how Gatwick Airport near London was terrorised for days last year
Protesters plan to block major intersections, march nude and use bikes to disrupt traffic during a week of protests throughout Australia as part of the global Extinction Rebellion movement
Police have been put on notice across the nation with climate change activists declaring they expect to be arrested.
In South Australia, activists will disrupt Adelaide’s CBD, with similar events planned in Sydney during the week.
A protest organiser has already apologised in advance for the ‘Spring Rebellion’, but is blaming the federal government’s inaction on climate change.
A ‘swarm for survival’ is planned for Wednesday, an ‘extinction rave’ for Friday night and a ‘nudie parade’ for Saturday.
In Brisbane, protesters have promised a ‘Water Birth For A Better Earth’ event at Southbank River Quay.
‘Swarming Flash Mobs’ will also roam Queens Gardens throughout the week.
A climate change protester in Brisbane is arrested after disrupting city streets. More action is planned across the country
A protester in Brisbane just before police came and took her away. Organisers have apologised in advance for the disruptions across Australia and accept some will be arrested
Extinction Rebellion activists setup camp in Carlton Gardens in Melbourne on Monday. Police have warned of arrests if they get out of line
In Adelaide, protesters will swarm on traffic hot spots and hold a ‘Block Party’ on Friday night.
Sydney will fire up at 1.30pm at Belmore Park, with a ‘Take Back the Streets’ protest expected to cause havoc.
The action follows similar protests in the UK last April, which saw major roads and bridges shut down across the country by swarms of thousands of protesters.
‘Now it’s time for Round 2,’ the protesters have warned. ‘And this time more than 50 countries around the globe will be taking direct action all at once, using evidence-based protesting to force the system change that we need.’
Protesters hit the street of Melbourne in a series of planned events across the country. Events will take place throughout the week from Brisbane to Adelaide
Extinction Rebellion protester Eric Serge Herbert (right) has been arrested five times for his demonstrations. Herbert (pictured with his twins) is a triplet and one of five children
Spokeswoman Jane Morton said the protests are the only way to urge governments to listen to experts and act on climate change.
‘There’s no alternative and we do apologise for the disruption because we believe it’s the only way we can get our message out,’ she told Melbourne radio 3AW on Monday.
‘It’s pressure and it’s the only way we know to save my kids, your kids if you’ve got any.’
Victoria Police Commander Tim Hansen said police would step in if there’s significant disorder, violence or if people’s safety is being put at risk.
‘We’ve been taking considered legal advice and human rights advice over the last fortnight, and we have a fairly clear tactical plan (of) how we’re going to respond this week,’ he said.
He said the group has a right to peaceful protest, but members of the public have a right to freedom of movement.
‘Not only do you have human rights, you also have human rights responsibilities here,’ Commander Hansen warned protesters.
Environment Victoria has extended its support to the group, saying their actions are understandable in such ‘desperate times’, in which political leaders appear unwilling to act on climate change.
‘These are ordinary people pushed to do extraordinary things in a moment of crisis,’ chief executive Jono La Nauze said in a statement.
‘People from all walks of life are involved – builders, doctors, students, public servants and even former police officers.’
Extinction Rebellion activists setup camp in Carlton Gardens in Melbourne on Monday. A long week of protests is planned across Melbourne
Activists set-up for a big week of activity across the country. In Melbourne, they began their protest in Carlton