Driver’s furious spray as unexpected climate protest creates traffic chaos in Melbourne

A Melbourne driver has delivered at furious spray at protesters in Melbourne on Thursday, after an unexpected climate action created traffic chaos in the city.

Sunrise reporter Andrew McCormack was on Punt Road, a major thoroughfare in Melbourne, where about 25 to 30 activists with banners are blocking the CityLink.

The disruption was occurring between the Yarra River and the South-Eastern Freeway overpass.

The protestors were against COP29, this year’s United Nations climate summit, happening in Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku.

Protest group, Extinction Rebellion, has called the COP29 a “festival of blah, blah, blah - a greenwashing exercise that provides a giant distraction and little outcome.”

“You can hear behind me the frustration from motorists, absolutely furious. Some have got out of their cars and caused a confrontation with some of these protesters,” McCormack said.

“They are furious that their morning commute to work has been absolutely destroyed. Right now, these people want to get — go about their business, they want to get to where they need to go this morning and these protesters are stopping that. Not happy.”

McCormack stopped to speak to a driver caught in the traffic chaos, who said he would be late for an exam.

“If I could talk to one gentleman here. I know he’s been waiting. Where have you got to get to?” McCormack asked.

“I’ve got an exam, mate,” he replied, clearly annoyed.

“What time is your exam?” McCormack shot back.

“8:30am,” he said.

“I just think, like, I get it, it’s important, but, like, surely there is 10 times better ways that you can do it than p***ing people off.”

Punt Road traffic has started moving again, after protesters were forced to the side of the road.