Extinction Rebellion activists glue themselves to Princes Bridge in Melbourne

Climate activists have glued themselves to a bridge in Melbourne’s CBD, blocking peak-hour traffic on a major road as the city emerges from lockdown.

At least seven Extinction Rebellion “rebels” glued themselves to Princes Bridge near Flinders Street Station on Wednesday morning.

Dozens of protesters were also in attendance about 7.30am, holding signs, chanting and showing support to the activists glued to the road.

They also hung a rope across the road holding placards that signified “life is hanging by a thread”.

Another two protesters locked themselves together through a pipe and police had to carry them away to saw it off.

Members of the public yelled at the protesters to get off the road and out of the way.

One protester, called Mark, said he had glued himself to the road because governments in Australia and around the world had failed to act on climate change and were “profiting off the wholesale destruction of the planet”.

“The government has set a target of net zero by 2050, but this is like being told we are poisoning our water supply and saying we’ll do something about it in 10 years,” he said.

“Our government is refusing to act, so it falls to everyday citizens like us. I don’t want to be doing this, I want to be playing music, hanging out with my friends.

“We have to stand in the way, we have to disrupt because they will not listen to us otherwise.”

Specialist public order police were still working to free the protesters after 9am and return traffic and trams to normal.

One protester, called Molly, told a live stream on social media that police had confiscated her megaphone for breaching the peace.

She said they had also been cautioned about breaching coronavirus restrictions.

But the protester claimed the activists were all at least 1.5m apart and had assembled in groups of no more than 15.

Protesters chanted “you’re a climate hero” as the activists were unglued from the road and taken away by police.

Acting Sergeant Melissa Seach said officers had now cleared the scene on Princes Bridge, St Kilda Rd.

She said seven people had been arrested and were being interviewed by police.

“A small number of demonstrators attended the area and glued themselves to the road just after 7.30am,” she said.

It follows a similar protest in Adelaide last Wednesday when eight Extinction Rebellion activists were arrested after gluing their feet or chaining themselves to buildings in the CBD.

Four climate protesters also glued their hands to the ground at Queen Street Mall in Brisbane last Tuesday, and on Sunday night Extinction Rebellion set up tents on the lawns at Parliament House in Canberra.

The series of protest action comes ahead of the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow starting on Sunday.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed he will attend the summit.

An Extinction Rebellion spokesperson said net zero emissions by 2050 was “too little too late” and climate action was needed by 2030.