CTAA calls Port Botany blockade a "senseless act" 22/03/22

We have received the below notification from the Container Transport Alliance Australia (CTAA) regarding the blockade at Port Botany:

The illegal blockade of Port Botany by climate-change activists from Blockade Australia this morning
(Tuesday, 22 March) is a senseless act and wreaks economic havoc on the container freight logistics
sector.

Two protestors suspended themselves from structures blocking major approaches to the southern end of
the Port at Simblist Road, and the intersection of Friendship Road and Bumborah Point Road. This
caused traffic gridlock impacting significantly on the operations of DP World Port Botany, the Truck
Marshalling Area (TMA), as well as empty container parks and other businesses in the area.

DP World Port Botany was forced to cancel many truck arrival time zones, and trucks were stuck in the
Terminal and surrounding streets.

The action at Port Botany this morning is a precursor to several days of activism planned in Sydney by
Blockade Australia from 27 June to 2 July 2022.

The NSW Deputy Premier, Paul Toole, has been quoted on radio this morning as saying that the penalties
for these reckless protest actions need to be stronger … “they have no respect for the law.”

NSW Transport Minister David Elliott is also quoted on radio as saying that the protest action is “nothing
short of economic vandalism”. “I can’t imagine a fellow Australian being so selfish, self-centred and
arrogant.”

CTAA Director, Neil Chambers noted that “the irony is that the equipment used by the protestors to secure themselves above ground – the clothing they were wearing – the “go-pro” used to film the scene – the headlamps they were wearing – and even things like the furniture they will sit on at the police station when they are arrested and processed through the legal system – have all come into the country by shipping container!”

The NSW Government, the Port Authority of NSW, NSW Ports, and NSW Police need to work urgently
with all port stakeholders to put in place appropriate measures to mitigate the absolute chaos that these
reckless protest actions cause.

“We certainly need to better prepare in case Port Botany is again targeted during the larger protest actions planned for the end of June / early July.” Neil Chambers concluded.