Convictions and fines dropped for Newcastle protesters Catherine Cox, Kimberley Croxford, Toni Sterai and Caitlin McMahon

A group of climate activists, who played their role in a series of disruptions at the port of Newcastle earlier this year, have been shown some leniency. Read what happened in court.

One of the many protestors at Port of Newcastle in june/July 2024. Blockade Australia

A District Court judge has shown mercy to a group of protesters who all took part in chaotic incidents which continuously brought the Port of Newcastle to a grinding halt earlier this year.

In a sustained campaign of disruption in June and July, a group of climate activists under the banner of Blockade Australia caused a series of disruptions to the world’s biggest coal port in the Hunter.

It caused major headaches for the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) having to deal with backlogs due to service disruptions and was labelled “dangerous” by authorities who were forced to rescue a number of protesters from the top of trains and who had scaled bridges and infrastructure.

In Newcastle District Court on Tuesday, four protesters lodged an appeal against their convictions and sentenced, with all four being showed leniency.

South Australian woman Catherine Elizabeth Cox was the first up as she appeared via video link.

Catherine Cox from South Australia had her convictions and fines quashed by a Newcastle District Court judge. Picture: Facebook

Her solicitor, who acted for all four protesters, argued her action of climbing on top of a coal carriage for up to three hours had a reduced safety risk because the train was stationary at the time.

He said Cox had been a public servant her whole life, did voluntary work and was heavily involved in the campaign against global warming.

The court heard she had engaged in many lawful steps taken over the years but in this instance her actions reflected her “desperation” for the cause.

The Crown solicitor said “general deterrence does loom large and a penalty is necessary” with her actions causing a large hindrance on police resources and the wider community.

She also mentioned that Cox live streamed herself on top of the train and wore the offence as badge of honour.

“There are other means of peaceful protest,” she explained.

But Judge Roy Ellis mentioned that the train had seemingly stopped without incident and heralded her for her “excellent character” and her work within the community and environmental endeavours.

He cited that her only motivation seemed to be for the future interests of the community.

He quashed her convictions for two charges of enter inclosed lands serious safety risk and cause disruption to a railway locomotive and deleted $2000 worth of fines.

Instead Cox was given a conditional release order with no conviction for a period of 12 months.

Kim Croxford, from Melbourne is one of the protesters arrested earlier this year for stopping coal freight trains in the Hunter Valley affecting the Coal Port.

In July, Caitlin Margaret McMahon from Lismore was also arrested for obstructing trains near the Port of Newcastle and was sentenced to a 12 month community correction order and slapped with a $1000 fine for a charge of cause obstruction to a railway locomotive.

She was also convicted for a charge of enter inclosed lands serious safety risk and two counts of refuse to comply with direction under part 14 in which she received $300 and $100 fines.

While the CCO was confirmed for the first charge, Mr Ellis dropped all fines and remaining convictions.

An arborist from Waratah who set up a bi-pod and suspended herself 10 metres high on the rail corridor in Newcastle also had her convictions and fines quashed and received a conditional release order for a period of two years.

Toni Sterai was initially convicted and slapped with $2000 in fines for a charge of enter inclosed lands serious safety risk and cause obstruction to railway locomotive.

Finally the court heard Kimberley Croxford from Victoria, who also appeared via video link, had stopped a train and climbed on a stationary carriage for four hours before co-operating with police and using a ladder to get down.

Her solicitor said a letter to the court said she had “reflected on her actions” and did not intend to engage in this type of activity again.

Mr Ellis also granted her appeal and quashed her convictions for the same charged and scrapped fines totalling $2000.

She was given a CRO for a period of 12 months.