Climate activist receives minimum eight month sentence for stopping Harbour Bridge traffic

Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell says those who supported the state’s strict protest laws will probably “wince” at the 15-month sentence handed down to climate activist 'Violet' Coco, who is the niece of Cabinet Minister Alister Henskens.

Ms Coco is being jailed for holding up traffic on the Sydney Harbour Bridge one morning “in the name of a so-called climate protest” and will receive a sentence of at least eight months.

“The New South Wales government introduced very strict laws in relation to this after a series of protests disrupted Sydney,” Mr Clennell said.

“Those laws meant that people could be jailed for up to two years for protesting illegally on public roads, rail lines, tunnels, bridges and industrial estates.”

Mr Clennell said the New South Wales government is “one of the most active in Australia in terms of climate change targets”.

“Which does make you wonder about the motivations of this activist 'Violet' Coco protesting in the drastic manner she did.”

[Peter-wtlk]

Being given the name Coco should be enough punishment for a lifetime.

[codforlife]

Don't agree with most climate crazies. But be very careful what you wish for when giving governments powers to lock up protestors. What if you were protesting against lock downs? Do you want to be thrown in jail for that? Some level of inconvenience must be expected from protests.

[petermcculloch]

Does this mean the Hollywood film crew who closed every lane on the bridge, disrupting Sydney traffic for an entire morning, are above the law or will they be sentenced to gaol time too?

[antiwoke]

It’s about time they start putting these lunatics in jail
They are just brainwashed

[berniefynn]

Give them a whiff of exhaust fumes, they will love it.

[MrTheclevercat]

You should get a lot more jail time for doing something like this. The consequences are so light that they will do it again. If the punishment doesn't stop them from doing it again then the punishment is by definition inadequate. Fine them $75, 000 minimum + 2 years in jail, doubling every time they "stop traffic" again. They will stop.

[tin]

Thanks for that "context" box, YouTube... Now I know what climate change is 🙄

[michaeldamiani]

A very good outcome. No one is above the law.

[lrrikin]

This is terrible. Surely there is something we can do....





..to get the sentence increased?

[theyeti]

Longer sentences + bankrupt them by charging them all costs of those affected by their "climate catastrophe" terrorism

[georgiec]

She's been arrested and charged at least eight times prior to this, so clearly a reasonable jail term was required. To everyone who says she shouldn't be jailed or lesser sentence, then please tell me then what amounts or arrests and charges does she need to have to satisfy your threshold on being sent to jail, or should she be allowed to break the law forever without consequences?

[gottagedit]

They need to start charging these “activists” which are more like terrorists.. with longer sentences

[neilkale]

They can't predict the weather for next week with 100% accuracy how they hell are they predicting things 100 years down the road

[Kakkorotto]

Make them learn. They'll think twice before doing anything stupid 😂🤣

[pauperking]

This will send a message to these so called activists. Clear message and well done for the NSW legal system.

[ianchandler]

BEST STORY in the news today, more outcomes like this for activists is most welcome

[dagwould]

About time. We have democratic processes for people to voice their views and argue their case; this sort of banditry is holding the community to ransom and in contempt. It is a mark of fascism, not freedom. I hope she doesn't get parole.

[AndrewMitchell]

Being jailed for a cause you believe in should be worn as a badge of honour stop complaining about it and do your time.

[alanbentham]

We finally have the court system doing what it is supposed to do.

[ws]

Punishment should to be made carbon neutral.