170 Protesters Arrested At Anti-Coal Blockade in Newcastle

A total of 170 protestors, including 14 children, were arrested over the weekend after taking part in a blockade of the world’s largest coal port at Nobby’s Beach in Newcastle.

The action, organised by climate activist group Rising Tide, was part of a multi-day event to blockade the Newcastle Harbour and to demand more dedication from the federal government to prevent climate change, including the end of new coal and gas projects. Thousands of people attended over the weekend, and joined what the group has dubbed a “Protestival”, which saw artists such as Peter Garrett, John Butler, and Angie McMahon perform.

Although police were successful in their bid to block the floatilla earlier this month, dozens of protestors still entered the water with kayaks and canoes on Sunday morning. An officer with a megaphone informed them from the beach that they could be arrested if they entered the shipping channel, which many did shortly after 10am.

156 adults and 14 children were arrested, most charged with disruption of a major facility, and 32 for not complying with a direction by an authorised officer relating to safety.

Police are continuing their operations and have not ruled out the possibility of further arrests.

Event Successful Despite Arrests

Rising Tide considered the event a success, with the blockade forcing a bulk carrier to turn around, unable to enter the port.

“In consultation with NSW Police and stakeholders a risk-based decision has been made to temporarily pause shipping,” a spokesperson for the Port Authority said in a statement to the ABC.

“The protest activity has compromised the safety of the shipping channel and led to an unacceptable potential risk to public safety, the port and the environment.”

Shipping movements resumed after several hours.

“People are putting their bodies on the line and doing what’s needed,” said Greens leader Adam Bandt in an Instagram post, attending alongside several other MPs from the party.

A number were arrested under NSW’s new protest laws, which the NSW Council for Civil Liberties have labelled “draconian”.

“Where to deploy police resources is a decision for the NSW government and the police. They have chosen to use these resources against peaceful protestors in defence of the fossil fuel industry,” said President of the group Timothy Roberts.

“Paddling a kayak in the Port of Newcastle is not an offence, people do it every day safely without hundreds of police officers. A decision was made to protect the safe passage of the vessels over the protection of people exercising their democratic rights to protest.”

Group Condemned by MPs

Shadow minister for police, Paul Toole, has called the protestors, “numbskulls” and advocated for their incarceration.

“Rising Tide are repeat offenders of creating anarchy in our ports, disrupting the daily lives of Australians and conducting themselves in an illegal and unacceptable manner,” he said.

“These protesters are just complete numbskulls trying to manipulate their way around our laws… it’s about time they are properly fined and given imprisonment terms for their behaviour.”

Environment minister Tanya Plibersek was questioned about the protests on Sunrise this morning.

“Of course, in Australia you have a right to peacefully and safely express your view,” she said. “But if you’re breaking the law, if you’re endangering others, if you’re diverting police resources, then I think you need to face the consequences of that.”

NSW has radically expanded  protest laws over the last few years, purposely targeting climate activists by introducing new legislation preventing protesters from blocking roads, bridges and ports to include railway lines in November.

Rising Tide will continue to mobilise throughout the week, with a delegation heading to Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday.