Wednesday 29 June 2022 06:42 AM Climate pest who caused traffic chaos on one of Sydney's busiest roads is ... trends now
A climate activist who allegedly blocked peak hour traffic and stranded thousands of commuters on one of Sydney's busiest roads has been arrested again for remaining in the Sydney CBD.
Mali Cooper, 22, was among 10 people charged on Monday evening after dozens of Blockade Australia protesters hit the streets in the morning to cause chaos for commuters in Sydney's CBD.
She filmed herself behind the wheel of a car blocking the entrance to the Sydney Harbour Tunnel causing kilometres of gridlock, leading to one furious commuter screaming insults at her.
Cooper 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.
However, she allegedly breached those conditions again on Wednesday afternoon, and was re-arrested for remaining in the Sydney CBD.
She has been taken to Surry HiIls Police Station for further questioning.
A further nine protesters are in the process of being released on bail this afternoon.
Activist Mali Cooper (pictured) defended allegedly gridlocking Sydney traffic because she believes it will get people talking about climate change and not Blockade Australia protesters, but she also acknowledged the protesters were acting in a privileged way
Ms Cooper allegedly chained herself to the steering wheel with a bike lock (left) causing gridlock for kilometres with one furious commuter hurling disgusting insults at her (right)
The woman was eventually arrested by several officers and the tunnel reopened around 9am
BY KEVIN AIRS FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA
The young woman who brought Sydney to a standstill by blocking a major road and chaining herself to her steering wheel once pursued a career as a glamorous teenage model.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal Mali Poppy Cooper, 22, was once a budding catwalk star in her mid-teens and was on the books of a top model agency until it went bust five years ago.
She appeared in several advertising campaigns and fashion photoshoots and was even in a pop video before becoming an eco-extremist.
But on Monday, far from starring as a pin-up, Cooper was instead pinned down by police after allegedly bringing Sydney's traffic to a grinding halt during rush hour.
The woman at the centre of Sydney's roadblock chaos is former teen model Mali Cooper whose stunning looks stopped traffic and brought the city to a standstill
Cooper is accused of parking a white rental hatchback diagonally across the entrance to the busy Sydney Harbour Tunnel, causing a queue of traffic that stretched for 20 kilometres and promoted widespread fury in the Harbour City.
She even livestreamed her Blockade Australia protest from her phone in the car as furious commuters screamed abuse at her over the peak hour delays she caused.
In a video, Cooper could be seen with a heavy duty bicycle lock around her neck which was looped through the steering wheel to stop police attempts from easily removing her from the front of the tunnel.
Specialists from the Police Rescue unit eventually had to cut her free before she was dragged from the car and held face down on the tarmac as she was arrested before she taken to a cell along with five other women and four male protesters.
Cooper, 22, appeared in Central Local Court via video link on Tuesday where she was given liberty under strict conditions that she return to her home near Lismore, northern NSW, and abide by a curfew between 10pm and 6am.
She was one of 10 Blockade Australia activists charged with multiple obstruction and disruption offences in Sydney's central business district on Monday. A further 11 were arrested during similar protests on Tuesday.
In court, Cooper's lawyer Mark Davis acknowledged her alleged offending was more serious than others in the group. But he said that she had strong family support with her grandmother and aunt present in court, and no prior criminal history.
Mr Davis said the condition -
