Kyle Magee, Juliet Lamont arrested after climate protests at Hay Point Coal Terminal

Climate activists have been arrested at a major Queensland coal terminal after chaining themselves to a conveyor belt. Here is why they did it.

Climate activists have been arrested after chaining themselves to a coal terminal’s conveyor belt.

The two protesters from Frontline Action on Coal say they allegedly entered the Hay Point Coal Terminal facility, south of Mackay, to raise awareness of inadequate emission targets.

Frontline Action on Coal activist Andy Paine said the Federal Government’s target of zero emissions by 2050 was not enough.

Kyle Magee (behind) and Juliet Lamont allegedly chained themselves to the conveyor belts to protest inadequate emission targets as a part of Frontline Action on Coal's movement, October 25, 2021. Picture: Contributed

“It’s the most basic agreement based on a Paris agreement five years ago, and Australia is only agreeing on it now,” he said.

“Australia is in a position to do so much more, we could be leaders in a post-carbon world but our government even argued if they’d agree to this most basic level.

“We need concrete steps to emission reductions, we need to shut down emission-incentivised industries like coal mining and gas exports.”

Normanby man Kyle Magee, 38, and Picnic Bay woman Juliet Lamont, 50, allegedly locked themselves onto the coal conveyor belt at the Hay Point Coal Terminal.

Juliet Lamont (left) and Kyle Magee say they were protesting inadequate emission targets as a part of Frontline Action on Coal's movement, October 25, 2021. Picture: Contributed

Police arrested and charged them with trespassing, contravening police direction, dangerous attachment device to cause a halt to operation of plant or equipment, and intentionally or recklessly interfering with the port’s operation.

The pair of activists will appear in Sarina Magistrates Court in November.

Mr Magee said the arrest would not stop him from protesting for a cleaner future.

Juliet Lamont (left) and Kyle Magee say they allegedly entered the Hay Point Coal Terminal to protest inadequate emission targets as a part of Frontline Action on Coal's movement, October 25, 2021. Picture: Contributed

“As it stands, I have no choice but to engage in civil disobedience until a time when our government will listen to the will of its people,” he said.

“Ordinary Australian citizens are more and more prepared to get arrested and go to jail to say no to this madness.”

Protesters allegedly entered the Hay Point Coal Terminal and chained themselves to the conveyor belts to protest inadequate emission targets as a part of Frontline Action on Coal's movement, October 25, 2021. Picture: Contributed