Twelve climate protesters have been arrested after a radical activist group resumed its mass disruption campaign in Sydney’s central business district.

Around 40 people from climate group Blockade Australia congregated in Sydney’s Hyde Park on Tuesday morning and marched east up William Street, the major route to Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

NSW Police, including the riot squad and mounted officers maintained a heavy presence, while the PolAir helicopter hovered above the demonstration.

The protesters’ progress was hampered by police and they quickly dispersed.

The march marked the second consecutive day of civil action by the group, which on Monday blocked the Sydney Harbour Tunnel and caused chaos in the city centre with a march that descended into violence.

Tweet from @BlockadeAus

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said 12 protesters had been arrested on Tuesday, describing the activists as “bloody idiots”.

“You want to push your cause – all you’re doing is making people move away from your cause as quickly as possible. It also endangers people,” Mr Perrottet said.

He said 10 activists arrested on Monday had been charged.

“It is completely unacceptable,” he said of the ongoing protests.

Many of the activists were refused bail and are due to appear in court on Tuesday charged with multiple obstruction and disruption offences.

Blockade Australia said the action would continue all week, with the group planning to “take to the streets” again on Wednesday.

Blockade Australia spokesman Jonah Shabtay said the protests were designed to demonstrate the effects of the collapse of the climate.

The action was to make it “quite known and unavoidable that disruption is going to come from climate collapse, in which Sydney’s economy is largely responsible”.

“In order to respond to that we’re choosing to disrupt the city,” he said.

The group had moved away from its prior tactic of targeting ports and was focusing on roads in central Sydney, he said.

“It’s essentially going to be traffic disruptions that we’ll see throughout the week,” he said.

Police Minister Paul Toole said he was furious about the protests, labelling the demonstrators “professional pests”.

Protesters who disrupt major roadways, ports and railways can be charged with newly legislated penalties of up to two years in prison and a fine of $22,000.

Meanwhile, Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said protesters must respect the law.

“I understand people feel strongly but you’ve also got a right to make your views publicly known,” Ms Plibersek told ABC radio.

“You don’t have a right to break the law while you’re doing it.”

– AAP