Moment truckie drags protester

Climate protesters shut down the Port Brisbane motorway on Wednesday. Photo: Facebook
Climate protesters shut down the Port Brisbane motorway on Wednesday. Photo: Facebook

A truck driver has been caught on camera dragging climate protesters along the ground after they blocked a busy motorway.

The Brisbane truck driver took matters into his own hands after Blockade Australia members caused traffic chaos on the Port of Brisbane motorway on Wednesday.

The traffic jam had made workers irate as traffic was held up for hours by the protesters for the third day in a row.

Climate protesters shut down the Port Brisbane motorway on Wednesday. Photo: Facebook
Climate protesters shut down the Port of Brisbane motorway on Wednesday. Photo: Facebook
Climate protesters shut down the Port Brisbane motorway on Wednesday. Photo: Facebook
One aggravated truck driver was seen dragging protesters out of the way. Photo: Facebook

The truck driver in question walked over to the group of five balaclava-clad protesters and began dragging them by their clothing across the road.

Some of the protesters scrambled back to the driver’s side of the road, while others remained splayed on the ground.

His actions were met with praise by some, with one man saying he wanted to “buy him a beer”.

“Love it! Hope they are lenient on the truck drivers! We are just trying to get to work, get off our publicly owned roads and protest somewhere legally!!” one person commented on a video of the incident.

“Don’t blame them. I’m all for a protest but you can’t stop traffic like that. These events cost everyday people money, jobs, time. Stupid protest and very selfish,” another said.

Others praised the protesters actions, saying they were doing their part to end climate change.

Climate protesters shut down the Port Brisbane motorway on Wednesday. Photo: Facebook
Police took hours to move these cars out of the way. Photo: Facebook
Climate protesters shut down the Port Brisbane motorway on Wednesday. Photo: Facebook
A woman had attached herself to the cars bumpers, making it difficult to remove the roadblock. Photo: Facebook

“Blockade Australia thank you for sending such a strong message about Australian’s export of fossil fuels that will just make the climate crisis worse for all life on our beautiful earth!” one said.

Just metres away from where protesters were being dragged across the road, another protester had locked herself to the rear of two cars.

“I’m doing this because otherwise I’d be completely miserable watching the ecosystems around me be destroyed,” the protester Naomi said.

“Direct action is a method for creating change because it speaks truth to power and demonstrates the urgency of the situation. I really wish for humanity that we can find common goals and a sense of purpose, and more loving ways of existing with the earth.”

Climate protesters shut down the Port Brisbane motorway on Wednesday. Photo: Facebook
Blockade Australia held up the Port of Brisbane for three days in a row. Photo: Facebook

Queensland police arrested three protesters – a 49-year-old Lismore woman, a 28-year-old South Brisbane man and a 34-year-old Sydney man – over the protest.

They were each slapped with a myriad of charges and will face court today.

Protesters also held up the same road on Monday and Tuesday, with a woman and a man arrested after they suspended themselves across the road.

The group also held protests in the Port of Melbourne and the Port of Newcastle, with six people arrested throughout the week.