Greens councillor seeking legal advice after charges

“I was trying to leave, and they stopped me leaving,” he says in the video.

He was charged with contravening direction from police and released from the Brisbane Watch House late on Saturday evening, posting on social media that he was “safe and unhurt”.

In a statement, Cr Sri said he had been arrested while packing up audio equipment with the “knowledge and support of police” before, he said, a single officer “singled me out and arrested me”.

“Out of the hundreds of people who participated in the authorised peaceful assembly, I was the only one to be charged with an offence on Saturday. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I was singled out,” Cr Sri said.

“The police have imposed an excessive and onerous bail condition on me, saying I will be arrested if I come within 200 metres of the Kangaroo Point hotel for any reason at any point before my charge is first mentioned in court on August 27.

“The police have clearly used this bail condition to prevent me from attending and supporting protests calling for the refugees to be freed.”

Cr Sri said he believed he was arrested ahead of the police moving in to break up the blockade on Monday afternoon, when they arrested some activists, citing “anxiety” from neighbours and guards.

The Queensland Police Service was contacted about the number of arrests since Friday at the blockade.

Activists blockading the hotel said they wanted refugee transfers to high-security facilities to be halted, for the refugees being held at the motel to have access to exercise, and for all of them to be processed and released into the community by Christmas.

They have also expressed concern that the refugees are medically vulnerable and at a high risk if a coronavirus outbreak occurs in the hotel.

On Monday night, Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram issued a statement saying he was “concerned by the actions of some protesters” at detention facilities and the “subsequent impact on detainees, my officers and staff, and the general public”.

“The ABF has successfully prevented any cases of COVID-19 among detainees by implementing a range of essential measures,” he said.

“People gathering in large numbers outside detention facilities, interfering with deliveries and encouraging detainees to breach social distancing requirements puts detainees and staff at risk.

“Access to essential medical appointments and the delivery of meals were impacted due to the protest activity.”

Mr Outram said detainees had access to family, friends and legal representatives through telephone and email, and that claims any detainees were being moved because they had spoken to the media or advocates were “incorrect”.

“The individuals residing in the alternative places of detention in Brisbane and Melbourne were brought to Australia temporarily for medical treatment,” he said.

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“They are encouraged to finalise their medical treatment so they can continue on their resettlement pathway to the United States, return to Nauru or PNG or return to their home country.”

He said none would be resettled in Australia under federal policy.

Acting federal Immigration Minister Alan Tudge told ABC Radio Brisbane the men were niether prevented from, nor being punished for, speaking to the media.

Labelling the protesters “Green and Labor activists”, Mr Tudge said their single objective was “to ensure that no-one is in detention facilities and effectively to reopen our borders”.

“We’ve had to take out some of the health professionals from that facility because they have been at risk,” he said. “So these protesters are actually putting at greater risk these detainees, the very people who they say they care about.”

Cr Sri has been an active member of the protests in the past week, urging more people to join and help stop further refugees from being moved from the motel.

A council spokeswoman said it was “expected that councillors will always act in a responsible and respectful way and ensure their conduct does not reflect adversely on the reputation of council”.

“Based on media reports it appears the behaviour of Greens councillor Jonathan Sri has now become a matter for the Queensland Police,” she said.

Any complaints made about a councillor’s behaviour are now referred to the Office of the Independent Assessor, which investigates suspected misconduct.

Cr Sri said he will fight the charge in court and would donate part of his salary to pay the legal costs of others charged during the protests.

“I intend to fight this charge, and the undemocratic bail conditions on human rights grounds, not simply for my own sake, but because these attacks on the right to peacefully gather in public spaces must be stopped,” he said.

Cr Sri said several activists were injured on Saturday night and police claims of no injuries were “misleading”.

Last year Cr Sri was heavily criticised by the LNP council administration, including lord mayor Adrian Schrinner, for participating in Extinction Rebellion protests, including allowing climate activists to host meetings in his ward office.

At the time Cr Sri said it was inappropriate for the LNP or for the council’s chief executive to decide what meetings could or could not be held in ward offices.

Cr Sri is expected to participate in council’s final chamber meeting on Tuesday ahead of the council budget being handed down on Wednesday.

– with Matt Dennien