After boarding ships in previous days, climate protesters have turned their attention to onshore coal loading equipment as police rack up arrests at a major protest event.
Rising Tide’s annual “protestival” at the Port of Newcastle entered its final day on Monday 1 December with 16 activists locking on to coal loading equipment including cranes and conveyor belts.
A banner was unfurled on a coal loader addressing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, saying “Albo – Stop all new coal and gas – or we will!”
Organisers said police were on site to arrest those who chained themselves to machinery, adding to the swollen numbers from the weekend.
As of 5.30pm on Sunday, 141 people had been arrested, NSW Police added.
Many protesters, including federal Greens leader Larissa Waters, cited a desire for an end of new fossil fuel projects as their reason for obstructing the port’s operations.
Fiona Lee was one of the people who chained themselves to a coal loader and said the experience of losing her home in the Black Summer bushfires brought the realities of climate change home.
“I cannot stand by as our government continues to approve the new coal and gas projects that are making these unnatural disasters worse,” she stated.
The only incidence of violence reported from the weekend involved an 18-year-old accused of assaulting a man and his child at nearby Foreshore Park.
Xavier Simmonds faced a bail court on Monday charged with two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one of wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The court heard he smashed a bong over a 46-year-old’s head about 11.20am on Sunday.
He is also accused of assaulting that man’s 17-year-old son when he intervened.
The 46-year-old was taken to hospital for treatment to cuts to his head, arms, legs and head.
Simmonds made partial admissions and had indicated he wanted to apologise to the victim, the court was told before he was granted conditional bail.
It was regrettable police were forced to step in to such an extent, Premier Chris Minns said, but he would not apologise for the large number of arrests.
“If the police would turn a blind eye, it would make a mockery of the state’s laws, and it would effectively be a green light for more of this kind of behaviour,” he explained.
“If you’re putting your own life and other protesters and police in danger, I hope common sense prevails and people rethink those kinds of activities.”
A series of events have run alongside the protests, including speeches, workshops and live music headlined by Australian indie pop act Lime Cordiale.
Newcastle is the world’s largest coal export port, sending 150 million tonnes offshore annually, mostly to east Asia.
For more news stories:
- Police launch investigation following five Hunter fires within hours
- Rising Tide’s efforts amounted to ‘nought’ says Minerals Council
- Changed traffic conditions slated on M1 Pacific Motorway extension
Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
