Reports that Police have arrested three residents taking part in nonviolent direct action at Holmwood St in Newtown today are cause for serious concern for our community.
Member for Newtown and spokesperson on WestConnex Jenny Leong MP says that people have a right to engage in peaceful protest.
“Local residents were peacefully protesting at the site when contractors shamefully built a fence around them. It’s not the first time we’ve seen dodgy tactics like this used by private contractors doing the Baird government’s dirty business,” she said.
“The private contractors at the site were from AECOM – the same company that earned a shocking reputation for problematic traffic modelling for Brisbane's Clem7 tunnel. The fact that the Baird government has already handed them millions in government contracts for WestConnex given their previous track record is outrageous.
“I congratulate the protestors who successfully delayed exploratory works for the unapproved WestConnex M4/M5 link tunnel, which will pass directly under our local area and spew thousands of cars onto local streets.
“We will continue to support the community as they put their bodies on the line to prevent the Baird Liberal government from destroying our city,” she said.
