I’m pretty sure under Australian regs you are breaking the law if you interfere with the operation of an aircraft. ie prevent it from dispatching.
If my memory serves me correctly, didn’t QANTAS themselves use similar tactics by parking tugs etc behind “Compass” aircraft in an effort to destroy their competition? Can’t have it both ways!
and the diversion was the latest in a series of unexpected landings jeopardising safety
Maybe if the bean counters weren’t determining fuel policy these days, there’d be less “unexpected landings”.