The man, who said he was "ex-military", evaded extensive security precautions to climb the bridge at dawn and hang two banners in a protest apparently linked to a custody dispute over his children.
The stunt forced the closure of the bridge that links north Sydney with the downtown area for around two hours, causing massive back-ups and leaving thousands of motorists and train and bus commuters stranded.
The protester, who reportedly parked his truck near a bridge pylon and used ropes to climb the arch, unfurled banners reading "Plz help my kids" and "Kids first".
"There is a major failure in the fact that there's no one looking after our kids when parents separate and divorce," the protester, who identified himself only as Mick, told a local radio station by phone from atop the bridge.
"If I have to stuff four million people around for one morning and that gets my kids and other kids help one day sooner, I have achieved my goal," he said before rappelling down onto the roadway to be arrested by waiting police.
Climber in custody
Members of the public and media questioned security at the landmark, and why the whole bridge - dubbed the "coat hanger" by locals - had to be shut for so long, causing several hours of delays in all directions.
"Police had no option but to close traffic to both vehicles and trains across Sydney Harbour Bridge," Deputy Police Commissioner David Owens told reporters, adding that the climb was very well planned and executed.
Owens said the incident, which he said was prompted by "personal circumstances", represented "significant threat to both the individual and the public" and that the climber was in custody assisting the investigators.
The British campaigning group "Fathers 4 Justice" pioneered the use of high-profile stunts to raise issues relating to custody and fathers' rights.
An activist from the group staged a rooftop protest on the Houses of Parliament in London in 2005, unfurling a banner and also giving mobile phone interviews to the media.
http://www.news24.com/World/News/Father ... c-20110513
Good on him!
