Police are expected to drop all charges laid against more than 100 Rising Tide protesters from the People’s Blockade of Newcastle Harbour in 2024.
Thousands of climate activists made their way to the Newcastle foreshore for Rising Tides’ People’s Blockade of the World’s Largest Coal Port.
125 people were charged under the Crimes and Marine Safety Act following the event, including the “anti-protest laws” which carry a maximum penalty of $22,000 fine or two years in prison.
According to Rising Tide, police are now expected to withdraw the charges on Friday 7 August, 2026.
In 2024, after allegedly paddling their way out into the harbour via Horseshoe Beach on kayaks in an attempt to block coal ships, around 34 people were pulled from the water by police.
Ten people needed police assistance to return to shore, and one police officer was injured.
Activists were calling for the federal government to implement a 78% tax on coal and gas exports and refuse future coal and gas mines in Australia.
Four Rising Tide protesters who took part in the 2024 blockade were found not guilty of breaching NSW anti-protest laws following a two-day court hearing in Newcastle in October 2025.
Noah Bruce-Allen, Roisin McSweeney, Andrew George and Joanna Garder were facing the prospect of two years behind bars after being charged for “serious disruption of a major facility” under Section 214A of the Crimes Act, before they were deemed not guilty.
Founder and Executive Director of Climate Defenders Australia, Julia Grix said dropping the charges earlier would have saved time and money.
“Police should have withdrawn these charges long ago, once it was clear they could not make out the cases against them,” Ms Grix said.
“More than one hundred people have spent almost two years waiting for justice.”
More than 100 prosecutions remain ongoing in relation to the 2025 People’s Blockade of Newcastle Coal Port, also run by Rising Tide.
Climate Defenders Australia, representatives of people whose charges have been dropped, and Rising Tide will gather in support at Newcastle Local Court this morning.
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