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How knitting, flowers and music are fueling Australia's protest wave

A stitch, a song, a wreath—unlikely tools are rewriting Australia's activism playbook. Meet the artists turning grief into resistance and policy into change.

,   and  Administrator
2 min read
The image shows a group of people walking down a street, holding a banner that reads "Fight for...
The image shows a group of people walking down a street, holding a banner that reads "Fight for Climate Justice". They are wearing masks and holding placards with various messages written on them. On either side of the street are buildings with windows, and in the background is a clear blue sky.

How knitting, flowers and music are fueling Australia's protest wave

Across Australia, protests and creative acts of dissent are gaining momentum. From climate activists knitting on roadside verges to artists commemorating the Frontier Wars, communities are using art, music, and storytelling to challenge power structures. This wave of activism includes both long-standing movements and new collaborations addressing environmental destruction and historical injustices. In Sydney, the Knitting Nannas continue their visible protests against coal expansion. Dressed in black and yellow, 30 members recently gathered on busy roadside verges, holding placards that read No New Coal. The movement, which began locally, has now spread nationally, with activists like Nannas Gally and Carol sharing tales of their campaigns in the latest episode of Creative Dissent: the pen (and voice) is mightier. Their actions highlight concerns over corporate greed and environmental harm.

Meanwhile, the *Desert Pea and The Frontier Wars March on Anzac* has grown into an annual event, drawing hundreds. Florist and activist Hazel Davies explains the desert pea’s significance as an Indigenous blood flower—a native alternative to the red poppy. She teaches others to craft wreaths from the flower, honouring the Frontier Wars, a series of violent clashes between Indigenous Australians and white settlers during colonisation. Similar commemorations are now emerging in other regions. Artists and filmmakers are also contributing to the dissent. Katharine Round and Leah Borromeo of Disobedient Films partnered with composer Jamie Perera to produce *Climate Symphony*, a one-minute piece that translates climate data into sound. Elsewhere, Anja Kanngieser and Daniel Jenatsch’s *A Story of Extinction* uses audio to reflect on climate breakdown, capitalism, and humanity’s impact on the planet. The University of Sydney faces backlash over plans to gut its College of the Arts. Proposed cuts include axing courses, dismissing 60% of staff, and shutting the Callan Park campus. Critics argue the move undermines creative education at a time when art and activism are proving vital tools for social change.

These actions—whether through knitting, music, or public marches—show how creativity fuels resistance. The Knitting Nannas, Indigenous commemorations, and climate-focused artworks are reshaping public discourse. As movements expand and new protests emerge, their impact on policy, memory, and environmental action continues to grow.

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