Climate Protesters Arrested on Melbourne’s West Gate Bridge Cause Peak Hour Chaos

Three climate protesters on Melbourne‘s West Gate Bridge caused peak hour chaos as Victoria Police removed them from a truck, leading to significant traffic disruptions. The demonstrators, associated with the group Extinction Rebellion, blocked city-bound lanes using a large truck adorned with banners proclaiming a ‘climate emergency’ and the commencement of ‘climate breakdown’.

Victoria Police responded to the scene at 8am and engaged in negotiations with the protesters who refused to descend from the truck. Search and Rescue officers utilized a cherry picker to safely arrest and lower the trio from the vehicle by 9.45am.

The Department of Transport confirmed the reopening of all lanes, although warned of heavy congestion extending back to Point Cook Road on the Princes Freeway and the Western Freeway on the M80 Ring Road, with delays anticipated to persist for up to 60 minutes.

An Extinction Rebellion spokesperson highlighted that the protest aligned with upcoming disruptive actions scheduled for March 13, known as Rebel for Life, coinciding with the ASEAN summit.

One of the protesters, 51-year-old concrete truck driver Brad Homewood, emphasized the necessity for governments to declare a climate emergency and urged global leaders to take immediate action to address climate change challenges.