Scouts NSW cancel hall booking of climate activists Rising Tide
Scouts NSW have intervened to shut down a hard-core climate-change action group from holding a gathering at one of their campsites, which was set to culminate in a protest targeting Australia’s biggest coal port.
NSW
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Scouts NSW have intervened to shut down a hard-core climate-change action group from holding a gathering at one of their campsites, which was set to culminate in a protest targeting Australia’s biggest coal port.
Rising Tide, who had four members arrested last month after they stormed Dominic Perrottet’s office, had planned to hold a multi-day meeting at a NSW Scouts’ camp ground before staging a “mass nonviolent protest action” targeting Newcastle’s coal port.
Scouts NSW investigated the booking for their Glenrock Scout Camp after being contacted by The Daily Telegraph, before cancelling it.
A spokesman for the Scouts alleged the booking for Rising Tide was made under another name.
“The initial booking was made under a different name … Scouts NSW has cancelled the booking,” a Scouts NSW spokesman said.
Rising Tide had widely publicised their Climate Camp online, which was set to be held from April 14 at Scouts NSW’s Glenrock grounds about 20 minutes from Newcastle.
An advertisement for the event implored people to join, with plans for each day including workshops on “politics and movement strategy”, before a “mass nonviolent protest action” on April 16.
The next day was set to include “planning (and the) next steps in building the movement”.
“Climate Camp will be an inspiring gathering targeting Australia’s single largest contribution to the climate crisis, the world’s biggest coal port in Newcastle,” the group’s website said.
A spokesman for NSW Police confirmed they were aware of the upcoming event.
It comes after fellow protest group Blockade Australia repeatedly shut down the Newcastle port and train lines leading to it multiple times in late-2021, causing delays to exports estimated to be in the millions.
Activists dangled from ropes suspended over rail lines and even parked a car across train tracks as part of that series of actions.
In June Blockade Australia gathered in Sydney in a bid to cause a week of disruption, with about 100 people running through the CBD blocking traffic and hurling street signs. Ten were charged over the action.
Last year the NSW Parliament passed tough new laws in a bid to crackdown on illegal protests, with new penalties including up to two years of jail and a maximum fine of $22,000 for those found guilty of blocking major roads and ports around the state.
The Rising Tide group, which proclaims on their website to be “prepared to take whatever peaceful actions within our power to defend the climate”, made headlines in March after members stormed the electorate office of former Premier Dominic Perrottet.
More than 10 members of the group occupied Mr Perrottet’s office, unfurling a banner stating “Perrottet: new coal and gas = climate fail”.
Four people were arrested in the action and charged with trespassing.
Rising Tide was contacted for comment.
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