More climate change protesters arrested, as SA government plans severe crackdown

The South Australian government is planning a severe crackdown on public demonstrations, as four climate change protesters were arrested this morning after allegedly throwing paint at the Santos building.

Police were called to the building in Adelaide’s CBD about 8am, where the climate action movement group Extinction Rebellion began another day of protests.

A 68-year-old Victorian women, 50-year-old Victoria man, 49-year-old women and 66-year-old Flagstaff Hill man were arrested and charged with numerous offences including property damage.

Three of the accused were refused police bail and the fourth person did not apply for bail.

The protests are underway while the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) conference is being held in Adelaide.

Today’s arrests come after an incident yesterday, where the same group had one protester abseil from Morphett Street’s bridge, causing traffic chaos and major delays for commuters.

The Premier has now told the Attorney-General to draft new legislation to present to parliament today. 

Following yesterday’s incident, Peter Malinauskas along with Opposition Leader David Speirs called for fines of $750 to increase to $50,000 for protest disruptions.

There was also a proposal for a three-month prison sentence.

Attorney-General Kyam Maher will work with the opposition to push for the bill to be put in State Parliament as soon as today.

“We can’t have a case of innocent people who are literally trying to service the community, are having their lives and incomes completely disrupted,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“This is taking it too far.”

While he said incidents like paint throwing would not be punished under potential new laws, major disruptions that impact the community would.

Mr Speirs said something needed to change.

“People like to protest, there’s protests all the time in the city, there’s ways to go about it,” he said.

“Yesterday the protests really caused productivity losses, hundreds of thousands if not millions.

“That’s not for people throwing paint, I don’t think people should be throwing paint … that’s for people who are blocking our highways and preventing ambulances getting to and from the Royal Adelaide Hospital.”

Greens alarmed by proposed laws

Greens climate spokeswoman MLC Tammy Franks said she was alarmed by the potential for new anti-protest laws.

She said it was important for people to talk about the climate crisis. 

“The recent World Meteorological Organisation report is another reminder of the need for urgent action on the climate crisis,” she said. 

“If only the Labor and Liberal parties were as keen to work together with such urgency on the real crisis before us.”