Fireproof Australia

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Fireproof Australia
Formation2022
FounderViolet Coco (and others)
TypeCampaign organization
Legal statusOrganisation
PurposeClimate change activism
HeadquartersSydney
Official language
English
Websitefireproof.news

Fireproof Australia is a prominent activism group dedicated to safeguarding Australia's unique ecosystems, communities, and future generations from the devastating impacts of wildfires.

Members of the group were arrested after blocking the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 2022. One member was briefly jailed on remand, before successful appealing the conviction.

Organisation history[edit]

Fireproof Australia is an Australia climate change activism group that was founded in 2022 in Sydney, Australia.[1] Founding members included Violet Coco. The group has stated that it was formed in response to the lack of response by the Australian government to the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season that left 18,000 Australians internally displaced.[2] The group rose to prominence in 2022 for a series of protests, including blocking high streets,[3] interrupting a National Rugby League game,[4] and obstructing traffic on the Sydney Harbour bridge – for which Violet Coco was sentenced to 15 months in prison.[5]

In March 2023, a judge overturned[6] the convictions and jail sentences of two Fireproof Australia activists. This decision came after it was discovered that the New South Wales Police Force had presented misleading evidence claiming that the protest had obstructed an emergency ambulance.[7]

Membership[edit]

Members include former members of Extinction Rebellion,[8] Violet Coco, Rural Fire Service member Alan Russell Glover, and Karen Fitz-Gibbon.[9][7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Front Page – fireproof.news"..
  2. ^ "Fireproof Australia: who are the radical Extinction Rebellion splinter group?". the Guardian. 9 April 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Fireproof Australia demonstrators block traffic at Lilyfield following protest at Brighton-Le-Sands one day earlier – Sky News Australia". 6 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Three-month jail sentence for man who interrupted NRL game in Cronulla with flare". The Guardian. 11 April 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Australia criticised by UN after climate activist Deanna Coco jailed – news.com.au".
  6. ^ Beazley, Jordyn; Press, Australian Associated (2023-03-15). "Climate activist Deanna 'Violet' Coco's 15-month jail sentence quashed on appeal". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  7. ^ a b "Violet Coco: Activist's jail term overturned in Australia protest row". BBC News. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  8. ^ "Climate activist who invaded a rugby game speaks out after time in jail". 9now.nine.com.au. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  9. ^ Gramenz, Jack (7 March 2023). "Sydney Harbour Bridge blockade protesters spared jail". The Times. Retrieved 15 March 2023.


External links[edit]