Thousands of protesters in both Sydney and Melbourne took to the streets to raise awareness about climate change, species extinction and Aboriginal issues – but it quickly turned political as a week of frustration at Scott Morrison’s election win boiled over.
Activist group Extinction Rebellion organised the rally in Melbourne at Victoria’s Parliament House on Friday, in solidarity with the Global Climate Strike, to pressure the Government to act on climate change.
At the conclusion of a similar rally in Sydney’s CBD, demonstrators joined Grandmothers Against Removals (GMAR) to march from Hyde Park Fountain to NSW Parliament.
The Aboriginal group are calling for newly elected Prime Minister Scott Morrison to abolish forced adoption laws ahead of National Sorry Day on Sunday.
Man holds ‘Abolish Australia’ at Sorry Day rally in Sydney on Friday – hours after protesters cause chaos in Melbourne
Demonstrators joined Grandmothers Against Removals (GMAR) to march from Hyde Park Fountain to NSW Parliament
The Aboriginal group are calling for newly elected Prime Minister Scott Morrison to abolish forced adoption laws ahead of National Sorry Day on Sunday
GMAR founder Aunty Hazel Collins said: ‘I want to address Scott Morrison and I want to ask the question: ”What is he going to do as Prime Minister in relation to the ongoing Stolen Generations?”’
‘Is he going to abolish forced adoption laws? Is he going to address the growing number of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care?’
‘Or is he going to be like previous governments that continue to practice genocide in Australia?’
One protester was seen clutching to an ‘Abolish Australia’ poster while attending the march on Friday afternoon.
‘Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land,’ another poster read.
‘Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land’: Protesters held posters while they chanted in Sydney’s CBD ahead of National Sorry Day on Sunday
GMAR founder Aunty Hazel Collins said: ‘I want to address Scott Morrison and I want to ask the question: ”What is he going to do as Prime Minister in relation to the ongoing Stolen Generations?”’
The rallies come less than a week after the Federal Election on May 18, where the Coalition was elected for third term
A number of young people decided to join the Sorry Day rally after attending a climate change protest at Town Hall Square
Demonstrators displayed the colours of the Indigenous flag – black, yellow and red – as they walked through Sydney on Friday.
Sunday will mark 22 years of National Sorry Day.
A number of young people decided to join the Sorry Day rally after attending a climate change protest at Town Hall Square.
Up to one-thousand protesters arrived in Sydney, sporting their most decorative posters, to demand politicians and business leaders lower their emissions.
Demonstrators displayed the colours of the Indigenous flag – black, yellow and red – as they walked through Sydney on Friday
Up to one-thousand protesters arrived in Sydney, sporting their most decorative posters, to demand politicians and business leaders lower their emissions
‘Love is everything’ read blue chalk written on the ground outside Town Hall in Sydney
The rallies come less than a week after the Federal Election on May 18, where the Coalition was elected for third term.
In Melbourne, thousands of climate change crusaders filled the streets in the CBD to stage a massive ‘die in’.
The colourful activists flooded the streets from midday with placards directed at freshly-elected Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Authorities warned Melbourne residents of lengthy traffic delays due to road closures across the city.
A statement from the rally organisers said: ‘The climate emergency is not a political issue, it is a scientific fact.
‘Labor or Liberal, the environment does not care. The Government must take action on climate change NOW!’
‘Sorry for the inconvenience we’re trying to save the world,’ one poster read as protesters caused traffic chaos in Melbourne
Thousands of climate change crusaders have descended on the streets of Melbourne to stage a massive ‘die in’
Protesters are seen lying down on Swanston Street during a ‘Climate Rally’ in solidarity with the Global Climate Strike
Some protesters decided to dress up for the occasion, donning white face paint and black clothing to appear as a corpse
Activist group Extinction Rebellion organised the rally in Melbourne at Victoria’s Parliament House on Friday to pressure the government to act on climate change
A large banner, held by a group of girls who had skipped school, quoted Swedish schoolgirl Greta Thunberg who first urged students to strike for the climate
Some protesters decided to dress up for the occasion, donning white face paint and black clothing to appear as a corpse.
Others proudly held up their posters which urged for immediate action on climate change, notably the use of fossil fuels.
‘Denial is death,’ one poster read.
‘Stop using fossil fuels or life as we know it will die,’ another said.
A large banner, held by a group of girls who had skipped school, quoted Swedish schoolgirl Greta Thunberg who first urged students to strike for the climate.
‘I want you to act as if the house is on fire… because it is,’ the poster said.
Protesters clung to their posters which urged for immediate action on climate change, notably the use of fossil fuels
A painting of newly elected Prime Minister Scott Morrison is seen being held from the crowd on Friday
A statement from the rally organisers said: ‘The climate emergency is not a political issue, it is a scientific fact’
‘Labor or Liberal, the environment does not care. The Government must take action on climate change NOW!’
The rally began at Parliament House before demonstrators began to march along Swanston Street and towards the State Library.
Residents were urged to be patient, plan ahead and allow extra time when travelling into Melbourne’s CBD, with Spring Street and Bourke Street shut for the protest.
‘A number of traffic management points will be in place with Bourke, Swanston, Collins and Flinders streets to be affected at various times from approximately 12pm until 3pm,’ Victoria Police said in a statement.
Police also stressed the importance of a peaceful protest.
‘Individuals have the right to lawfully attend events and protest, however we ask that people do so peacefully and respectfully without impacting on the rest of the community,’ they said.
Residents have been urged to be patient, plan ahead and allow extra time when travelling into Melbourne’s CBD on Friday due to traffic chaos
‘Stop using fossil fuels or life as we know it will die,’ said one poster displayed in Melbourne on Friday
Organisers expected at least 5,000 protectors to attend on Friday, which involves a demonstration of lying ‘dead’ to show the Earth’s sixth mass extinction
Extinction Rebellion has organised protests around the world including in Hungary and London, where demonstrators reportedly glued themselves to the ground
‘Victoria Police will not tolerate those who break the law or engage in antisocial or violent behaviour.’
VicTraffic recommends travellers check transport updates as some bus replacements have been brought in due to the road closures.
Organisers expected at least 5,000 protesters to attend the rally, which involved a demonstration of lying ‘dead’ to show the Earth’s sixth mass extinction.
The action coincides with the Global Climate Strike.
‘There is no economy on a dead planet’: The rally comes less than a week after Australia’s Federal Election
A man carries a young child on his shoulders while marching for climate change action on Friday
Father Bob Maguire, a Roman Catholic priest and media personality, spoke to the rally on Friday afternoon
Not all residents were fond of the protest, with many scratching their heads why the demonstrators were willing to skip out of work and school
Extinction Rebellion has organised protests around the world including in Hungary and London, where demonstrators reportedly glued themselves to the ground.
Not all residents were fond of the protest, with many wondering why the demonstrators were willing to skip out of work and school.
‘Police preparing for another waste of space climate change protest in Melbourne,’ one person Tweeted with an image of police.
‘Australia make two per cent impact on the world’s climate. Suggest the idiots march on the US, China, India and SE Asia.
‘More Green and Socialist morons wasting people’s time!’
Another said: ‘Don’t these climate change protesters work? Why can’t they protest on the weekend by the beach so they don’t bother anyone?’
‘Who’s not happy now? Hope there’s no primary school children involved this time,’ one person wrote.
‘Who’s not happy now?’: Some social media users suggested the protest was a reflection of the Federal Election last Friday