More than 100 people took part in Melbourne’s Divestment Day protest, as part of a national day of action against major banks continuing to invest in new coal, oil and gas projects.

Australia-wide, up to 1000 bank customers cut up their cards, switched banks and closed accounts with the Big Four – ANZ, Commonwealth, NAB and Westpac.

Protesters in Melbourne donned tee-shirts proclaiming ‘My bank chose fossil fuels so I chose another bank’.

Among them was the vocalist of ska and jazz band The Cat Empire, Felix Riebl, who switched to Bendigo Bank.

‘‘The Divestment movement really appealed to me because it came to my attention that ANZ, which was my bank, was the leading investor in coal and gas investments around the country, especially those affecting the reef more recently.