While everyone has a right to protest, it is assumed that one protests legally. Extinction rebellion however has set a new benchmark in being a public nuisance blocking roads and bridges and generally making a mess and disrupting people's days. For most of the population this says more about the activists not giving a crap about anyone else and less about the cause.

Up to now being arrested was at best a finger wagging, now that the laws against this version of eco terrorism are being tightened up and the tossers will be able to experience real self sacrifice. A couple of stiff fines and community service cleaning up after themselves should do for a start followed by jail time and a criminal record for recidivists.

There is no 'right' to disrupt traffic, impede people going about their lawful business. There is no 'right' to tie up police who are not paid to be parade marshals. There is no 'right' for a nasty, thrill-seeking minority of hoons to bring the CBD to a standstill. Rather, there is a genuine right for the majority of the population to be protected from mobs trying to subvert democracy. These creeps are undermining the rights of the majority, aided and abetted by weak governments too frightened to deal with the creeps. The rule of law is slipping away in Australia, an increasingly rooted country.

There have always been people for whom violence is exciting; protests and disruption of others lets them clothe this deeply unattractive attribute in politically noble clothes. All physical protesters, including 'little old ladies' are violent people who hold the democratic process and the majority in contempt.

Studio 10 host Kerri-Anne Kennerley has slammed climate change protesters, suggesting motorists should “use them as a speed bump”.

Perhaps contra-violence might be the answer for the mobs in the street, who clearly don't understand what democracy and common decency are all about. There is probably not much point in trying to reason with them.

Dear Shadow Minister,

Come on mate, this is not anything new.

"Sydney, ringed by about 19 blockages, could suffer some food shortages by tomorrow.

Fruit, vegetables and dairy products were being dumped by drivers stopped at the NSW blockades."

http://www.smh.com.au/national/from-the-archives-nationwide-truck-blockades-cripple-australia-s-roads-20190403-p51ah5.html

The police response then?

"Victorian police were watching the blockades all night and their instructions were to avoid confrontations."

But you want the modern day protesters to do jail time?

Even leading Leftist, Daniel Andrews has gone dirty on Extinction Rebellion, saying they are not winning any friends. Apparently they are disrupting Danny Boy's major construction works.

It's amusing to watch these Leftist idealogues chopping and changing when their pets interfere with another of their passions. The wheels are slowly but surely falling off the Leftist bandwagon.