Great-grandma, teen student, doctor: Kayak activists arrested disrupting coal ships

Eight climate protesters have been arrested after they tried to paddle through a police water checkpoint at the world’s biggest coal port and disrupted coal ships.

A 16-year-old student, a doctor and an 84-year-old great-grandmother were among those pulled from their kayaks by police after they paddled out into shipping lanes in the Port of Newcastle on Saturday.

Climate activists from the group Rising Tide staged a protest in Newcastle Harbour, attempting to block the entry of a large bulk carrier into the world’s largest coal port. Credit: Getty Images

Two have been released, another two have been detained while the status of the remaining four was unknown, event organiser Rising Tide said.

A 16-year-old a high school student from Melbourne who was arrested on the water said he couldn’t stand by and watch the planet get hotter.

Newcastle doctor Peter Schofield accused governments of committing “ecological malpractice” by continuing to approve new coal mines.

“Ultimately, [I] chose to risk arrest because the government is not listening to the science,” he said.

NSW Police chase climate protestors who pass yellow buoys marking the “safe area”.Credit: Getty Images

Brisbane 84-year-old June Norman who was arrested after paddling out to block coal ships said she had a duty to protect the environment for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

NSW Police have been contacted for comment.

Anti-coal demonstrators and supporters had made their way into the water at the Port of Newcastle as part of a mass flotilla and protest on Horseshoe Beach on Saturday.

Climate protesters remained on the water overnight and into Saturday after paddling out in kayaks on Friday as part of the planned three-day blockade in the coal-rich NSW Hunter region.

There is a festive, determined and hopeful feel among camp goers, Rising Tide organiser Alexa Stuart said.

“We have made our voices heard in a way that our government cannot ignore,” she said.

“This is one of the most significant climate protests in Australia’s history at the world’s largest coal port.”

Midnight Oil frontman and former environment minister Peter Garrett along with musicians including John Butler and Angie McMahon took to the stage to perform on Saturday as part of an associated festival.

“It just shows how widespread the concern of the climate crisis is that famous people, everyday Australians, young people, old people, are all here together, united to send a message to the government,” Stuart said.

Peter Garrett performs at a rally during Saturday’s blockade.Credit: Getty Images

Garrett performed songs including band hits Blue Sky Mine and Tin Legs and Tin Mines.

He slammed the “overreach” from authorities, including the NSW government, for attempting to stop the peaceful protest event.

“Is the threat to the wellbeing and the peace of the Hunter region to be found in a group of citizens exercising peacefully their democratic rights or is it to be found in continuing to export a material which is going to blow the world up in a furnace?” Garrett told the crowd.

Court challenges that eventually allowed the event to proceed previously heard some protesters might seek to be arrested to attract publicity.

A similar event in 2023 resulted in 109 arrests when protesters remained in the water beyond the advised period, attracting global attention.

NSW Police said they had adopted a “zero-tolerance approach to actions which threaten public safety and the safe passage of vessels”.

There was a large police presence at the event with officers escorting coal ships through the harbour and policing the water.

“We’re able to go into the water, but the shipping lane, which is marked by two buoys, that’s where the police are monitoring the water, preventing us from going into that section of the water,” Stuart said.

Rising Tide wants to end new coal and gas approvals and wants a 78 per cent tax on coal and gas exports to help fund the clean energy transition.

AAP