NSW Police speak ahead of Newcastle Port climate protest

Police have said they expect hundreds – if not thousands – at a climate protest in Newcastle at the state’s busiest port this weekend, with those attending warned not to enter the shipping lane.

Police expect hundreds, if not thousands of climate activists to flock to the state’s busiest port this weekend for a protest.

Activist group Rising Tide had withdrawn their form one application to protest at the Port of Newcastle, which provides additional legal protections and was set to be opposed by police in the Supreme Court.

In a press conference on Wednesday, NSW Northern Region commander David Waddell said police recognised the right to free speech.

Climate protesters gather on the Newcastle foreshore ahead of the “Newcastle Protestival” which starts on Friday.

“Our primary concern is on water safety and public safety on the harbour, there is a maritime exclusion zone which begins at 5pm Thursday and continues through to 8am on Monday,” Assistant Commissioner Waddell said.

“Our message is very clear that people are not to enter the water, so we encourage participants of that public assembly not to enter the water and to comply with directions from police and maritime officers who will be patrolling.”

Police keep an eye on protesters at the Rising Tide Peoples Blockade of the port of Newcastle in 2023. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

The NSW Government has imposed an exclusion zone preventing protesters entering the on-water shipping lane either by swimming or kayaking at the risk of arrest.

“We will have police out in force for the weekend from Traffic and Highway Patrol around the road to ensure community safety, to general duties and high visibility police and all sorts of specialist resources including Marine Area Command, Aviation Command, mounted police, the dog squad, and public order police,” Assistant Commissioner Waddell said.

Image from a previous Port of Newcastle protest.

Rising Tide spokeswoman Alexa Stuart told The Daily Telegraphthe group still intends to protest on the foreshore.

“It remains completely legal for us to gather and protest on the beach,” Ms Stuart said.

“People that go on the water, even to swim or kayak, may be asked to leave – we view this as a massive overreach and we're calling on the minister to revoke the exclusion order.

“This is quite an extraordinary use of police powers we haven’t really seen before.”

Earlier on Tuesday protest organisers refused to rule out blockading the coal port despite port authorities warning an unexpected blockade would put both lives and the environment at significant risk.

Supporters also held a snap protest against an exclusion zone preventing them from entering the shipping lane as part of the action outside NSW transport minister Jo Haylen’s inner west electorate office.

“We respect people’s right to free speech and demonstration but where people commit criminal acts and interfere with the safety and general movements of the community we are going to take action,” Assistant Commissioner Waddell said.

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