'Global uprising': Rally supports 22 climate protesters arrested at Parliament House

Protesters at the ACT Courts in support of 22 climate change activists arrested outside Parliament House heard they were part of “a global uprising”.

The 22 people were arrested while participating in a mass rally organised by climate activist group Rising Tide outside Parliament House on 27 November 2024, the group reported.

The protest had aimed to ask Prime Minister Anthony Albanese the question, “When will your government stop approving more fossil fuel projects?”

The protesters demanded a meeting with the Prime Minister regarding the Federal Government’s approval of coal and gas projects.

On Wednesday (29 January), a rally was held outside the ACT Courts in support of the 22 activists as they were scheduled to face the ACT Magistrates Court that morning.

The rally was attended by about 50 people, including ACT Greens MLAs Shane Rattenbury and Jo Clay.

“We are a global uprising,” Annie Close, a member of Knitting Nannas and Move Beyond Coal, told the rally.

“We love our planet, that’s why we are here.”

Rising Tide spokesperson John Wurcker told the crowd, “We’re winning”.

“The only issue is we’re not winning fast enough,” he said.

“What you’re doing will make it faster.”

Mr Wurcker said protesting may get despairing at times, but he urged those there, “Don’t give up”.

In a statement, he said Australians from all walks of life demanded to know when the government was going to stop jeopardising the future of the country’s children by approving new coal and gas projects

“Governments have been warned about the danger of the climate crisis for decades,” he said.

“We can see the results of climate inaction playing out more and more frequently in examples such as the recent Los Angeles fires and European floods.”

Speaking late on Wednesday, Mr Wurcker said all 22 activists had their cases adjourned until 11 March and had their bail conditions lifted.

The adjournment was sought by the prosecution, he said.