Hunter, Newcastle Anti-coal protesters have charges dropped by DPP

Attorney-General Mark Speakman has revealed a shock revelation over charges made against Hunter anti-coal protesters that blockaded rail lines for over a week.

Attorney-General Mark Speakman has revealed the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions has been forced to drop charges against a series of anti-coal protesters — who blockaded rail lines for coal transport in the Hunter Valley for over a week.

Several members of activist group, Blockade Australia, were arrested and charged over the week-long demonstration, where protesters worked to stop coal trains from entering the Port of Newcastle in November last year.

A protester on top of a loaded coal train carriage in Sandgate, Newcastle. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

At the time, NSW Police established a strike force in an effort to combat illegal protesting, with former Police Commissioner Mick Fuller issuing the threat of 25 years in prison.

However, on Thursday the Attorney-General blamed a “gap in the law” after charges were dropped against the protesters.

Attorney-General Mark Speakman. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“There was a blockade last year in the Hunter Valley and criminal charges were brought,” he said. “I understand yesterday the DPP has dropped those charges because of the need to prove an intention to endanger lives.

“So there are plenty of offences right across the state that deal with endangering lives and physically attacking people for vandalizing property — but there’s a gap in the law.

‘We’re dealing with … economic vandalism.”

A protester on top of a loaded coal train carriage in Sandgate, Newcastle. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

The blow to the DPP’s case against Hunter Valley anti-coal protesters comes as Mr Speakman and Roads Minister Natalie Ward expanded regulation, which would see $22,000 fines and the threat of two years in prison for the disruption of any bridge or tunnel across Greater Sydney. However, the penalty is not currently imposed on roads or rail lines.

Blockade Australia protesters have wreaked havoc on Port Botany for three days straight from March 21.

Acting Premier Paul Toole said protest groups in Blockade Australia have set up legal teams to assess “penalties and fines might be in relation to these protests”.

“We are going to throw the book at you,” he said.

Assistant Police Commissioner Peter Cotter said Blockade Australia supporters, charged this week over protests in Port Botony, would not face the same charges that were dropped by the DPP in the Hunter anti-coal case.

Assistant Commissioner Peter Cotter NSW Police.

“We believe we are on very solid ground for the charges we preferred to the people thus far,” he said. “(The dropping of charges) is a matter for the magistrate, the DPP and the investigating officers.

“I am not privy to it.”

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