On Tuesday morning I went along to do some photography at a protest at the offices of Australian MP Josh Frydenberg, Minister for Resources, Energy and Northern Australia. Josh is the Member for Kooyong in the east of Melbourne, and is a member of the Liberal Party.
He’s known for opposing environmental regulation, and for frequently speaking in favour of the coal industry. Last year he said there was a “strong moral case” for proceeding with the vast Carmichael coal mine in Queensland, which would emit more CO2 every year than New York City, and similar amounts to Malaysia.
At 9:30am, around a dozen people arrived and started a sit-in in Josh’s office. I managed to get this shot before press were no longer allowed inside.
Outside others strung up a banner and sang songs
Some members of the group tried to engage passing pedestrians and motorists
At around 11am police told those inside that if they didn’t leave by 12 noon they’d be arrested
The group inside deliberated
And decided they had made their point, and at midday they walked out
The protest was one of several ‘Pollution Free Politics’ events across Australia this week, targeting MPs who support the fossil fuel industry. The campaign says that since the last election the fossil fuel industry in Australia has donated more than $3.7m to the major political parties, and received more than $7.7bn in taxpayer subsidies.
Josh Frydenberg was not at his office, but told the Herald Sun newspaper that it was “outrageous” that the police did not have the power to move along the peaceful protestors outside.
Sylvia Rowley 