The young woman who locked herself onto the steering wheel of a car blocking Sydney's harbour tunnel in peak-hour traffic has been granted conditional bail along with fellow climate protesters.
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Mali Poppy Cooper, 22, appeared in Central Local Court via video link on Tuesday when she was given liberty under strict conditions that she return home near Lismore and abide by a curfew between 10pm and 6am.
She is one of 10 Blockade Australia activists who were charged with multiple obstruction and disruption offences following the mass interference campaign in Sydney's central business district on Monday.
The group of up to 60 activists converged on Hyde Park about 8am before marching towards the harbour, chanting, playing drums, pulling down signs, dragging wheelie bins onto the road and blocking intersections.
Some of the charges laid include entering Sydney Harbour Bridge disrupting vehicles, obstructing drivers and other pedestrians, and wilfully preventing the free passage of a person, vehicle or vessel.
Cooper's lawyer Mark Davis on Tuesday acknowledged her alleged offending was more serious than others in the group but that she had strong family support with her grandmother and aunt present in court, and no prior criminal history.
He said the onerous conditions including reporting to police three times a week, restrictions from entering Sydney's CBD, and prevention from contacting co-accused would be enough to cause her to "re-think activities of protest".
Brad Homewood, 49 and Harley McDonald-Eckersall, 24, were also granted bail on Tuesday to return to their home addresses in Victoria's Williamstown and Preston respectively.
The court was told Jemika Lancaster, 22, was arrested after throwing objects, while Isabel Sleiman, 21, stood in front of police officers and a vehicle with her arms extended, and both were also granted conditional bail.
Lancaster must return to Queensland while Sleiman who resides in Petersham has been prohibited from the northern end of Sydney and the CBD.
Three others arrested on Monday - Monroe, 25, Su-Min Lim, 34, and Jack Matthew Oswald, 25 - have also secured conditional bail.
Mr Davis outside court said his clients were brave in the face of the newly implemented penalties that target protests on major roads, ports and railways.
Some face two years in prison and a fine of $22,000.
The group will next return to court on July 19 when they are expected to enter pleas.
Australian Associated Press
