Police in New South Wales have arrested and charged eleven climate change activists during a major environmental protest at Newcastle harbour, the world's largest coal export port.
Mass 'Protestival' Disrupts Coal Operations
Thousands of protesters gathered for the annual Rising Tide people's blockade on Saturday, with hundreds taking to the water in kayaks to prevent the passage of coal ships. Australian Greens leader Larissa Waters joined the flotilla, paddling alongside other activists in a dramatic display of civil disobedience.
The NSW government had established an exclusion zone covering most of Newcastle harbour until 7am Monday, with protesters facing enforcement action if they breached the buoy-marked area. Despite this warning, determined activists entered the shipping channel in kayaks, a small boat, and as swimmers.
Arrests and Charges Following Channel Breach
By 1:30pm Saturday, police confirmed eleven people had been arrested and charged with alleged marine-related offences during what they described as a "high-visibility police operation" in Newcastle. The climate activist organisation Rising Tide provided more detailed accounts, stating that nineteen people had been arrested with some later released without charge, though police did not confirm this larger number.
According to Rising Tide, ten swimmers were pulled from the water by police as they attempted to swim across the channel. Four kayakers who entered from the Stockton side, opposite Horseshoe beach, were also arrested. A further five people, including members of the Knitting Nannas activist group, were detained after entering the shipping channel on a small boat, with the Knitting Nannas reportedly among those released without charge.
Significant Impact and Personal Convictions
The protest successfully disrupted coal shipments, with Rising Tide claiming that NSW police temporarily lost control of the channel, forcing the Cemtex Leader coal ship scheduled to enter the harbour to turn around.
Protesters faced varying charges, with some being charged for entering a marine exclusion zone, which carries a maximum $1100 fine. Others faced more serious charges under anti-protest laws that can result in up to two years' imprisonment.
Jonathon Dykyj, a Newcastle parent and one of the swimmers who entered the channel, explained his motivation: "The personal consequences to me of getting arrested today pale into insignificance compared to the consequences that runaway climate change will have on our community, our lives and the lives of our children."
He criticised the Albanese government for "failing the working families of the Hunter Valley by not protecting us from climate damage, and not planning for a just transition for coal workers."
Australian Greens leader Larissa Waters shared video from the protest on her Instagram, stating: "We are part of a flotilla of thousands of good-hearted people fighting for a safe climate and I could not be more proud to be out here on the water with them."
The police operation remained ongoing, with authorities promising to provide further information as it became available.
