Industry lashes ‘tick-a-box virtue’ climate protest amid plans to block coal ships
A protest to stop coal ships being pitched as a day of “family fun” has been condemned by the mining industry, unions and politicians as “reckless”.
NSW
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Families and children are being urged to take part in a major coal protest by bringing tinnies and kayaks to create a “flotilla blockade” at the world’s largest coal port in the latest escalation of climate activism, with the event labelled “irresponsible”.
Controversial climate activists Rising Tide are hosting the People’s Blockade from November 24 to 27 in the Port of Newcastle and have claimed it will be a nonviolent “family-friendly” protest.
A spokesman said they were expecting “large numbers of families”.
“It will be a fun and family-friendly gathering, with live music and speakers and food shared by donation,” the website said.
“Borrow one of our kayaks, or bring your own vessel – a kayak, tinny, yacht or surfboard.”
The organisers said “a range of safety measures” will be implemented to protect children, but said coal ships will be stopped by the “sheer number of people” who turn up.
“A flotilla of thousands of people will occupy the shipping channel and demand the end of new coal projects... We will stop the coal ships by sheer numbers of people who are determined to stop fossil fuel expansions, as the first, urgent step to respond to the climate crisis,” a spokesman said.
“Some of the most important advances in history have been won through civil disobedience, including the 40 hour working week, the vote for women, US civil rights, protection of the Franklin River and many other treasured natural places.”
But the move has been condemned by the mining industry, unions and politicians who said the protest was “illegal” and out of touch.
Maritime Workers Union of Australia Newcastle branch secretary Glen Williams said giving into the demands of climate protests would devastate the region.
“It’s fine for people to come to Newcastle and protest but this region absolutely relies on coal for its lifeblood. People rely on this to put food on the table,” he said.
“Shutting it all down right now is not going to do it, it’s irresponsible and reckless and shows no responsibility for the people of the region. They don’t understand what they are asking for, it will decimate this region at a time there are cost of living pressures.
“You can forget the poverty line, people would be destitute. Our members are 100 per cent relying on coal to put food on the table and so are thousands and thousands of people, you can’t take that away over night like these people want.”
Minerals Council chief executive Stephen Galilee said the event encouraged families and children to come along and was putting them at risk.
“People have the right to protest, but it should be without breaking the law and putting people at risk. Reckless illegal protests by activists like Rising Tide put people at risk, including the protesters themselves,” he said.
“Encouraging the involvement of children in dangerous and illegal protest action is totally irresponsible and should be condemned.”
Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce said activists who wanted to stop coal ships need to be aware of the financial consequences of their actions.
“It’s tick-a-box virtue. What is the cost of their virtue? One kayak paddle,” he said.
“When you stop the ships, tell us which hospital you want to stop, which NDIS payment you want to stop. If you are going to be authentic with your virtue then be authentic with how you’re willing to trim the budget to support that virtue.”
Greens leader Adam Bandt, who will be at the event and urged people to attend, defended the protest.
“I hope to be there with Rising Tide in Newcastle in November, because they are everyday people trying to protect this country we love from worse fires, floods and droughts,” he said.
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