Protests, guerrilla gardening and direct action by 'Whose future’ coalition
Extinction Rebellion Australia, 26 Sept 2025
A week of action in Melbourne (Naarm) to inspire resistance to the profit-driven systems of oppression driving climate chaos, genocide and colonial violence, and urge us to imagine better ways of living.
‘Whose future?’ is a call to action from a collective of groups and individuals imagining a future beyond our current systems. Those with wealth and power who benefit from these systems — the weapons companies, mining conglomerates, billionaires, real estate companies and paid-off politicians — have a monopoly on shaping the future. But they are not invested in people or the planet, only in their own profits and successes at the expense of people and the planet.
The week of action called on people to ask: whose future is being stolen? Whose future has already been destroyed? And whose future will become reality if we keep upholding this system of infinite growth?
Answering these questions involves linking different struggles that people across society are fighting, building collectives around food, housing and meeting basic needs, caring for land and water, sharing knowledge and practices in ways that are accessible to all, and engaging in a wide range of protest activities: civil disobedience, striking, blockading, and other forms of economic disruption.
Actions during September included shutting down Webb Dock, to cause economic disruption and halt the flow of trade to genocidal states; graffitiing monuments that glorify war; dropping banners over highways; and holding community workshops, skill-shares and dinners.
'Whose future’ also encouraged local groups to organise independent actions, such as the occupation of ALP MP Daniel Mulino on Monday to demand sanctions on Israel.
'Whose future’ calls on everyone to:
- resist systems built on violence, dispossession, and exploitation of land and people.
- reimagine what futures are possible and what society could look like.
- reorganise in ways that enable communities and ecosystems to flourish.
CEO's home targeted by climate activists
On Thursday, September 18th, two environmental protesters climbed onto fossil fuel executive Scott Wyatt's roof in Edithvale, VIC to protest Viva's climate wrecking business. The women unfurled a banner saying, "The planet is not dying it is being murdered" to demand that big polluters like Viva are be held accountable for climate destruction.
In May this year Viva received state approval to open a massive gas import terminal in Corio Bay, Geelong, Victoria, which will import fracked gas from other states and create a huge volume of emissions.
From the roof of the Viva CEO's home, Dr Colette Harmsen said, "I'm here today because the people who are destroying our planet have names and addresses. The CEOs and owners of fossil fuel corporations have made immense profits from polluting our atmosphere. It is time for fossil fuel executives like Scott Wyatt to be held accountable for the climate emergency. The crisis for every living thing on this planet is real, and it is happening now."
Viva plans to dredge a channel in the Corio Bay, causing significant damage to the marine life. The gas terminal presents a significant fire risk and will be very close to lower income community houses. Locals to the Corio area have opposed the Viva gas terminal for more than four years, citing both the climate impacts and the immediate environmental hazards.
Bridge blocked and DHA office occupied
On Friday 19 Sep 2025, protesters disrupted morning business-as-usual in Naarm/Melbourne with two simultaneous actions.
The bridge that crosses the Birrarung/Yarra on Punt Road was blocked by a protester suspended on a tripod over the road. Banners hung from a truck read: "Protect Sea Country" (in English and Gunditjmara) and "Care for Country and Elders." The protestors acted in solidarity with the Gunditjmara people, who are fighting seismic blasting for oil and gas exploration off their coasts, as well as sending a general message to protect Country and respect First Nation's wisdom. A spokesperson for the action said: "We stand with First Nations People of the Kulin nation and with all indigenous peoples around the world."
At the same time, the office of Defence Housing Australia (DHA) in South Melbourne was occupied to protest DHA's destruction of Lee Point, a sacred and highly biodiverse area on Larrakia Country, NT. Construction is underway to build 800 DHA-owned houses, spanning 131 hectares of remnant bushland that acts as one of the last remaining wildlife corridors in Darwin and home to the endangered and revered Gouldian Finch.
The DHA housing project is staunchly opposed by the local community, with an ongoing, years-long campaign led by Larrakia people. The occupation of DHA's South Melbourne office is in solidarity with the Larrakia people. A spokesperson for the action said: "DHA is guilty of land banking, housing foreign military personnel, stealing land and selling homes to everyday families whose dollars do directly into funding the ADF. "We won't let them steal land and lives quietly."
These acts of resistance are just one part of a long tradition of people fighting against violence, occupation and dispossession, both on these lands and others.
'Whose Future?' believes hope lies in a culture of resistance. The group wants people to understand the harm perpetuated by the current system, and will use their bodies to take collective action until they see change. They emphasise disruptive and empowering tactics that highlight systemic failure. Economic disruption has been a key part of successful movements, and continues to be strategic when traditional democratic means fail.
By taking actions like these, 'Whose Future?' hopes to show there are always people that will stand up for what’s right.They hope to make visible the wide range of practices that are used globally to make alternatives possible. These practices include caring for community and Country, nurturing other ways of living, and finding new ways to give people hope.