Truck driver drags climate change protesters off the road in Brisbane

This is the moment climate change activists were forcibly removed by a furious Aussie truckie after they blocked a busy motorway in Brisbane on Wednesday morning.

Demonstrating over environmental issues, the protesters sat in a row across the port of Brisbane motorway, one of the city’s busiest routes, causing a massive traffic jam.

But the protesters were no match for a burly Aussie truck driver, who dragged them off the tarmac and dumped them onto the side of the road.

The protesters, repeatedly tried to scramble back onto the road – only for the truckie to drag them off again.

Earlier photos showed five masked protesters posing with two silver cars parked across the highway.

One woman had chained herself between the cars, with police forced to cut her out.

The video was shared online, where hundreds of Aussies applauded the driver.

A truck driver (pictured in a high-vis vest) was filmed dragging Blockade Australia protesters off the Port of Brisbane motorway on Wednesday

‘This guy needs a medal,’ one said.

‘This driver is a legend. They are playing with people and their livelihoods,’ a second added.

‘Makes me ropable how they just sit there with such an entitled attitude! Well done for dragging them off like they deserve,’ a third added,

Police said three protesters were arrested for the peak-hour blockade that caused a kilometres-long traffic jam.

The stunt was the latest in a series of protests organised online by Blockade Australia that have caused massive delays across major cities this week.

Several of the protests have used a ‘monopole’ – a small pole held up by three ropes with a protester suspended from the centre – to block roads. 

Five protesters have been arrested since Monday. 

Earlier photos of the blockade (above) showed masked protesters posing on top of cars parked across the motorway with a woman chained between them 

Police said three protesters were arrested for the peak-hour blockade (above) in Brisbane

On Thursday the group struck out again, this time delaying a series of coal trains.

In Melbourne a 62-year-old woman jumped on top of a coal train heading to the port.

As of 10am, emergency services were at the scene with the woman still on top and causing significant operation delays.

In NSW’s Hunter Valley a 16-year-old girl and 64-year-old woman locked themselves on top a coal train in Singleton, delaying its trip to Newcastle by two hours.

Both protests were livestreamed on Facebook with the 16-year-old telling viewers: ‘I’m really worried about my future and am taking action today because I believe that the system is hurling us towards ecological collapse.’

The group bragged about the blocks on Instagram writing: ‘Epic! 11 times in four days and counting, Blockade Australia has stopped operations at major export facilities.’

When asked how long disruptive protests will continue, Blockade Australia told Daily Mail: ‘Roads, rail and ports have been blockaded by protesters for as long as there have been roads, rail and ports.

‘These are the parts of national infrastructure that are accessible to ordinary people. 

‘Blockade Australia and aligned direct action groups will continue to disrupt the destructive systems that are killing our world for as long as it takes.’

NSW Premier Chris Minns said he is meeting with Facebook heads and police to discuss how livestreams of the illegal protests can be blocked, the Daily Telegraph reports.

‘These thrill demonstrators are putting lives at risk – both their own and those of emergency service and police,’ Mr Minns said.

‘Their business model relies on social media to broadcast their protest.

‘We will sit down with police and Facebook about what more can be done to stop the broadcast of illegal acts.’

Blockade Australia responded: ‘Silencing protests on Facebook will not cool the planet. There are many other media platforms available to activists. 

‘We are in discussions with our network about banning the infinite profit economic model that is driving climate collapse.’