A masked man has been engaged in a six-hour standoff with police after climbing 460 feet (140 metres) up a pillar of Melbourne's Bolte Bridge, demanding lower taxes and a peanut butter and jam sandwich. The unidentified graffiti artist, linked to the Pam the Bird tag, scaled the structure early Tuesday morning, causing traffic chaos on the Bolte Bridge and M1 motorway.
Demands from the bridge
The man, dressed entirely in black, initially cited “lower taxes” as a condition for coming down, sharing his demands via a social media account associated with Pam the Bird. In a video clip, he said: “I'm not coming down until they lower the taxes. I'm f***ing sick of paying that s**t.” When asked which taxes, he replied: “All of them.”
Later, he added a request for a “blankey” to ward off the cold—Melbourne temperatures dropped to 3°C that morning—and a peanut butter and jam sandwich with a glass of milk. “I want a peanut butter and jam sandwich and a glass of milk or I'm not coming down,” he said in another clip. He later posted a masked selfie with the caption “patiently waiting for my pb and j sandwich”.
Police response and traffic disruption
Police and emergency services have been on scene since around 3 a.m. local time, closing lanes on the Bolte Bridge and causing significant delays on the M1. Officers have been negotiating with the man, who has remained perched atop the pillar, occasionally shrouded in cloud due to the altitude. At one point, he abseiled partway down to wave at onlookers before climbing back up.
Victoria Police have urged the public to avoid the area. A spokesperson said: “We are working to bring this incident to a safe resolution. The safety of the individual and the public is our priority.”
Pam the Bird graffiti history
The Pam the Bird tag has appeared on notable Melbourne landmarks since 2023, including Flinders Street Station and the ‘International Gateway’ installation along the M1 near Tullamarine Airport. The graffiti also appeared on the large yellow ‘Cheese Stick’ beam of the motorway art installation.
Man plans to descend at noon
Shortly before 11 a.m., the man posted an update saying he would descend at noon “peacefully”, adding he was “awaiting the tide going out”. Sea level is approximately 95 feet below his perch. The standoff continues as of late morning.
