The legal system has finally come down hard on Blockade Australia protesters, with one being sentenced to three months’ jail.
After more than 30 arrests over the past fortnight, as part of the organisation’s sustained campaign to disrupt the Hunter rail network, a line’s been drawn in the sand once and for all.
Twenty-one-year-old Laura Davy, who halted a Stacker Reclaimer at the Port of Newcastle, received her custodial penalty at Newcastle Local Court on Monday 8 July.
In the process, she became the first activist to be heavily punished under the anti-protest laws, which were introduced in 2022.
It follows Maitland City deputy mayor Mitchell Griffin’s call to deal with the illegal objectors more harshly, after 300 passenger services in the region were impacted, too.
NSW Minerals Council boss Stephen Galilee also slammed Blockade Australia and its followers.
“It’s a typically selfish approach from a bunch of people who are clearly unable to engage in effective debate, or win an argument, so resort to their dangerous stunts instead,” he said.
Ms Davy admitted she took part in the mobilisation to “confront the system that is putting her future in jeopardy”.
“In the past I would just fall into a pit of despair and grief, just wishing that someone would do something,” she added.
“We’re facing imminent climate collapse.
“You’re filled with dread and hopelessness… and you think to yourself ‘why isn’t anyone doing anything?’
“This latest period of disruption has seen people from all parts of the continent, and all walks of life, putting their bodies in the way of Australia’s destructive infrastructure.
“I’m a piece in that puzzle and we are all a piece of that puzzle.
“We can’t just sit in our beds doomscrolling feeling awful.
“We can either sit back and watch the world around us crumble or we can stand up now and put our minds and bodies to work however we can and catch the pieces as they fall.”
Despite Ms Davy’s punishment, Blockade Australia remains resolute, believing its actions have disrupted the nation’s biggest coal port for more than 100 hours.
“Our efforts are ongoing,” a spokesperson said.
“Activists in this network have faced legal repression and jail time in the past but the risk of not acting pales in comparison.
“A safe future relies on collective action and hope lies in a culture of resistance.”
It’s understood Ms Davy, with very limited priors, will lodge an appeal.
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