Port of Newcastle protest: 104 people charged, activists block ‘almost 500,000 tonnes of coal’
More than 100 climate activists have been charged, including a 97-year-old Uniting Church minister, after they allegedly defied orders and continued to blockade almost 500,000 tonnes of coal.
NSW
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More than 100 people have been charged, including a 97-year-old religious minister, after police swooped on climate activists who defied orders to leave a Port of Newcastle shipping route on Sunday afternoon.
Retired Uniting Church Minister Reverend Alan Stuart was the oldest person to be arrested at the protest. He was filmed being gingerly fished out of his tinny by two police officers. The 97-year-old is the grandfather of one of the protest organisers Alexa Stuart.
Reverend Stuart said he felt it was his duty of protest for the future of his grandchildren.
“I am doing this for my grandchildren and future generations because I don’t want to leave them a world of increasingly severe and frequent climate disasters,’ he said on Sunday.
“I am so sorry that they will have to suffer the consequences of our inaction so i think it is my duty to do what I can and to stand up for what I know is right.”
The group of kayakers were rounded up by police in inflatable speedboats, before being moved onto a larger vessel after the authorised assembly expired at 4pm.
“Police will allege in court that a number of protesters purposely entered the harbour channel after this time despite appropriate warnings and directions by police,” a statement from NSW police said.
“Subsequently, 109 people – including 49 males, 60 females, five of which were juveniles - were arrested.”
The port returned to normal functions by 5.30pm.
“Of those arrested, 18 people were taken to Newcastle, Waratah and Toronto Police Stations and 86 people were taken to a nearby port facility. They were all issued court attendance notices for operate vessel so as to interfere with others use of waters,” the police statement said.
Two men, 23 and 65, were refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Monday, while the remainder will appear on January 11.
The five juveniles were released and will be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.
The charges fall under the Maritime Safety Act which carries a maximum penalty of a $3300 fine.
On Monday, NSW Premier Chris Minns admitted his embattled Police Minister Yasmine Catley “would like her time again” when asked about the blockade of the Port of Newcastle last week.
“I think if she had her time again she would have used different words, obviously,” Mr Minns told 2GB’s Ben Fordham.
The Premier underlined the importance of coal operations especially when transitioning the economy to renewable energy.
“Basically there’s been an annual event on the Newcastle Port at Newcastle,” Mr Minns said.
“I want to make a point. I don’t support it, I’d rather it didn’t happen.
“We stopped $40 billion worth of coal last year and we need it if we’re going to transition our economy to renewable energy.”
Earlier, Rising Tide organisers said 59 protesters had been arrested as of 5.45pm.
It came after they expected police to take “at least a few hours” to clear the water.
“It’s clear that the police were caught off-guard by the number of participants,” spokeswoman Alexa Stuart said.
Ms Stuart apologised for the disruption to cargo, but said the group had been “very prepared” to move aside to let any non-coal carrier in or out of the port and weren’t approached to do so.
“The vast majority of what’s exported through the Newcastle port is coal … we do sincerely apologise for the inconvenience that we have caused,” she said.
A police spokesperson confirmed arrests have been made, but with the operation in full swing could not confirm a figure.
At 4pm police had not yet moved on the remaining protesters, who at that time told media they were more than happy to risk arrest and remain blocking the port indefinitely.
Spokesperson Alexa Stuart said the group was prepared to employ “civil disobedience” to achieve their goal - a commitment from the government to refuse new coal projects and a 75 per cent tax on exports.
“We wish we did not have to do this, but the Albanese Government needs to understand we are serious,” she said.
Police signed off on the event on the condition that it would begin at 10am on Saturday and end at 4pm on Sunday.
Around half an hour after their legal permission to be in the Port of Newcastle’s waterways expired, two NSW police dinghys and a larger Marine Area Command vessel converged on the small contingent of paddlers, warning them they’re in breach of section 15A of the Maritime Safety Act.
If they continue to remain in the channel, they could be arrested, although it is understood no arrests have yet been made.
Meanwhile, 11 shipping vessels are anchored off the coast awaiting permission to come into the port. It is understood the next vessel scheduled to make use of the passage currently blockaded by protesters is a departure, not due to leave until 7pm, with the authorities accounting for some leeway in when operations would be able to resume.
Police Minister Yasmin Catley said previously that “if anyone breaks the law, they face arrest”.
PADDLING PROTESTERS BLOCK ‘ALMOST 500,000 TONNES OF COAL’ EXPORTS
Climate activists gathered at the Port of Newcastle have launched their kayak and catamaran flotilla for their second day blockading the waterways against coal and cargo ships.
Day two of the 30-hour rally, allowed to proceed with police permission, will see a sandcastle-making competition on the shore and a “climate dogs parade” before the protesters are sent packing at 4pm.
Diehards donned headlamps and set sail again overnight, keeping watch over the waters in two-hour shifts. Around 350 people took part in the night watch from 7pm to 7am, organisers said, which included a pikelet-making raft to keep bellies full.
Rising Tide organiser Zack Schofield claimed the group’s actions have stopped the equivalent of half a million tonnes of coal from being exported.
“We’ve been public about our intentions to hold this protest for months now; that’s given the port time to reorganise the schedule, but across the 30 hours typically about eight or nine coal ships ... would’ve gone out by now,” he said.
“That’s done every day in Newcastle except for these two days, so regardless of what’s going on behind the scenes, we have actually stopped coal exports for 30 hours.”
Local high school teacher Aurelia Novak, 51, a climate activist of nearly two decades, took the 2am to 4am shift overnight.
“We just held tight to blockade the port, to try and change the direction of the coal, and keep it in the ground,” she said. “This has been the most beautiful and family-friendly event that I’ve ever been to. There’s no rage at all, and we’ve been really clear about that. This is about compassion and kindness.”
While the activist group has stated their intentions are to specifically prevent coal carriers entering and leaving Newcastle’s waterways, the port also facilitates 24 other kinds of cargo, some of which have been delayed by the protest action. Several ships, including bulk carriers transporting oil and bulk liquids, are anchored off the coast waiting for the all-clear to move in.
A spokesman for the Port of Newcastle confirmed no ships have passed through the channel since the protest began on Saturday morning because of safety concerns.
“On a working harbour, safety is paramount,” he said.
“At present, due to the number of people currently in the shipping channel, all shipping movements have ceased due to safety concerns, irrespective of the cargo they are carrying or intend to load.”
A police spokesperson confirmed there have been no incidents overnight requiring police intervention. Police vessels are out on the water monitoring the protest.
The festival-like scenes kicked off on Saturday with dozens of kayakers wading into the water to the background of soft rock.
Unlike many climate demonstrations and blockades, organisers set up stalls and a stage for two days worth of live music.
Queensland coal miner Grant Howard said he made the trip despite considering himself an outlier in the industry.
Mr Howard is a 20-year miner who does bush regeneration on the side in Mackay.
“I’m in the minority (among miners),” he said.
“It’s the only reason I’ve stayed, I’m 60 I could have retired.”
Mr Howard flew down to a rainy Horseshoe Beach to join what the protest.
“I fully understand the need to change,” he said.
“Being a coal miner doesn’t divorce me from caring about the climate.”
Greens leader Adam Bandt told the crowd that “these boats are the only boats the government should worry about”.
“People are going to keep turning out until this government of gaslighters stops pretending to take action on climate change.”
In a statement, NSW Minerals Council chief executive Stephen Galilee reminded the “activists and extremists” that NSW coal exports made up just a small component of global coal supply.
“In 2022, coal exports through the Port of Newcastle represented less than two per cent of global coal supply. However, coal is a major contributor to the NSW economy,” he said.
“Coal exports represent NSW’s most valuable exports by far, and are worth more than $70 billion nationally.
“Coal exports provide jobs for over 25,000 people across NSW. Coal exports also indirectly support tens of thousands more jobs, including in thousands of mining supplier businesses across the state.”
Mr Galilee said coal exports also generated billions in royalties for the state government each year - which helped fund hospitals, schools and other public services and infrastructure.
“Disrupting coal exports through the Port of Newcastle will have no impact on global coal demand or supply,” he said.
“However it will potentially cause significant economic damage to NSW.
“Everyone has the right to protest. However it should be done legally and safely.
“With difficult weather conditions forecast for Newcastle this weekend, protest organisers must ensure those participating do so safely, and within the law.”
The Port Authority has not revealed when they intend to reinstate shipping.
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