PROTESTERS attempted to disrupt operations at the ports of Brisbane, Newcastle and Melbourne on Monday morning.

Three climate activists associated with Blockade Australia suspended themselves over key road and rail routes, intending to block the movement of freight.

At Port of Newcastle, according to social media posts from Blockade Australia, one person suspended themself from a bipod over a rail bridge to block access to coal terminals on Kooragang Island.

At the Port of Brisbane, another person “scaled a mono pole” over lanes leading in and out of the port.

And at Port of Melbourne, a person attached to a mono pole blocked Appleton Road on Coode Island.

The activist at Port of Melbourne was a 50-year-old man named Brad Homewood, according to Blockade Australia.

“I’m taking action with Blockade Australia because the Australian system and its Institutions are a core part of the problem,” he wrote via the group’s Facebook page.

“This system is doing exactly what it was set up to do, extract and exploit with a callous disregard for all forms of life.

“You cant solve a problem with the same thinking that created it, we cant vote our way out of this mess, the system cannot fix the system.”

Police removed all three activists throughout Monday morning (19 June), but Container Transport Alliance Australia director Neil Chambers said the impact of the disruptions are ongoing.

“It completely stopped trucks from coming onto Fisherman’s Island, so that’s a major entrance way into the port [of Brisbane], so that’s very disruptive,” Mr Chambers told DCN.

“The protester at the Port of Melbourne was in Appleton Road and Coode Road, which is a major intersection, and of course, there’s enough disruption in that area of the port of Melbourne as it is with the Westgate Tunnel project road works,” he said.

“I reflect on the fact that all the ropes, all the pulleys, all the clothing, the helmets, everything that the protesters are wearing and using, have come into the country in a container. But they’re using them to protest against the activity of the port. It just doesn’t make sense.

Mr Chambers expected the blockages in the morning to have a flow-on effect for the supply chain.

“Particularly from the port of Brisbane point of view, those trucks that were trying to gain access to Fisherman’s Island would have not met their appointments for that time,” he said.

“They’ll have to re-book, and also the stevedores will have to look at the issue of no-show fees and penalties for late arrival or non-arrival.

“It has a significant flow-on effect for the supply chain and the costs to the supply chain.”

Protesters charged

On Monday afternoon NSW Police announced the woman who suspended herself from a pole at Port of Newcastle had been charged.

Police said the woman was removed safely from the structure with help from Police Rescue. She was arrested at about 1040.

“The 22-year-old was taken to Waratah Police Station, where she was charged with cause obstruction to railway locomotive and enter inclosed lands give rise to serious risk to safety,” NSW Police said in a statement.

“The woman was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Tuesday 20 June 2023).

“Investigations into the incident continue.”

And QLD Police confirmed the woman protesting at Port of Brisbane had caused “major traffic delays” in the area.

“The 23-year-old Mount Gravatt East woman has been charged with one count each of unregulated high-risk activities, trespass, committing public nuisance, pedestrians causing an obstruction, contravening direction and using dangerous attachment device to interfere with transport,” QLD Police said in a statement.

“She is due to appear at Wynnum Magistrates court on July 24.”