Climate change activists boast about ‘dangerous’ stunt bringing the world’s largest coal port to a standstill – as cops arrest more than 140 protesters including children
A horde of climate change protesters descended on the world’s largest coal port on Sunday causing havoc as they scaled the side of a coal ship, smashed a jet-ski into a police boat and brought shipping to a halt.
Thousands of climate change protesters gathered at Horseshoe Beach in Newcastle on the NSW Central Coast this weekend to take part in demonstrations organised by Rising Tide, which has been estimated to have cost the region close to $1million.
NSW Police confirmed it had arrested 141 people, including 18 children, and charged 121 adults under the Crimes and Marine Safety Acts by 5.30pm on Sunday.
On Sunday evening, the activist group released a statement congratulating itself on the blockade having forced the coal ship Ragnar to turn around when it tried to sail into the port and the Port Authority of NSW confirming all shipping had been halted.
Among those arrested were two protesters who suspended themselves with ropes from the side of another coal ship, the Yangze 16.
That cargo ship had already sailed into the Port of Newcastle and was attempting to dock when the demonstrators scaled its side about 8am.
Officers reached the vessel by helicopter and arrested two women about 3.30pm who were holding a banner reading ‘phase out coal and gas’. A third protester had left the vessel earlier due to changing weather conditions.
Greenpeace, whose members attended the demonstration alongside those from Rising Tide, later applauded its activists for spray painting ‘timeline now’ on Yangze.
Thousands of Aussies turned up for the demonstration on Saturday and Sunday (pictured are some near the exclusion zone buoy which designates the safety clearance area for ships)
Two women were arrested after suspending themselves from the side of a coal cargo ship (pictured) on Sunday
The women were part of a large protest by Rising Tide and Greenpeace at the Port of Newcastle
Police arrested 141 people, including 18 minors, at the event
Dr Elen O’Donnell claimed to be one of the Greenpeace protesters who boarded the ship.
‘We are taking action today, alongside thousands of people who have joined Rising Tide’s blockade, to show Australia’s leaders that if the government won’t act, the people will,’ she said in a statement from Greenpeace.
‘From the side of this vessel we can see ships far out to the horizon, many of them on their way to collect coal.
‘These industries, and the Australian people, are owed a clear plan and timeline for the phase out of coal and gas.
‘We are risking arrest because we don’t want a future reliant on coal and gas.’
Yangze 16 was the second ship to be stopped by activists over the weekend, following a 85,000-tonne bulk carrier – the Cemtex Leader.
NSW Police established a marine exclusion zone to prevent protesters from colliding with ships. The zone will remain in place until 7am on Monday.
A boat allegedly breached the exclusion zone about 10.10am on Sunday, prompting police to pursue it on a jet ski.
Rising Tide boasted ‘more than 100 heroes’ had breached an exclusion zone created by NSW Police
Police Minister Yasmin Catley condemned protesters for their ‘total disregard for personal safety and human life’
The jet ski and the boat collided and a 26-year-old woman, the sole occupant of the boat, was arrested. No injuries were reported.
She was granted conditional bail and is set to face Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday.
Rising Tide later boasted about its demonstrators crossing the exclusion zone.
‘More than 100 heroes breached the exclusion zone and occupied the shipping channel, forcing the coal ship to make a sheepish about turn,’ it wrote online.
‘As the kayaks crossed the police line, thousands of people on the beach shouted in unison – the people united will never be defeated.’
Police condemned ‘several unsafe practices on the water over the course of the event’.
‘The NSW Police Force recognises and supports the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their rights of free speech and peaceful assembly,’ NSW Police said.
‘However, the priority for NSW Police is always the safety of the wider community and there will be zero tolerance for illegal and dangerous behaviour.’
Protesters called for the Australian Government to release a timeline on when it would stop exporting coal
Protesters gathered at gathered at Horseshoe Beach before heading into the water
Among those arrested were nearly 20 children
Of the 141 people arrested on Sunday, 18 were minors
Thousands turned up for the protest over the weekend, which blocked two ships from docking
Police Minister Yasmin Catley said the alleged behaviour at the port was ‘dangerous, reckless and has very real consequences’.
‘This group is exhibiting a total disregard for personal safety and human life – both the lives of those protesting and those of our police and harbour workers,’ she said.
‘The right to protest does not override the right for others to be safe. It does not entitle anyone to put others in direct danger.
‘The Maritime Exclusion Zone was established for a reason – to protect lives during shipping movements. Breaching this is a deliberate decision to put your life at risk.’
In another incident, an 18-year-old was charged with two counts of domestic violence-related assault occasioning actual bodily harm and wound person intend to cause grievous bodily harm.
About 11.20am, police were called to Foreshore Park following reports of an assault allegedly involving attendees of the protest.
A 46-year-old man was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics for lacerations to his back, arms, legs and head.
A 17-year-old boy, believed to have intervened in the alleged assault, was also treated for minor lacerations.
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said the exclusion zone was put in place to ‘protect lives during shipping movements’
Greenpeace said its members were ‘risking arrest’ because ‘we don’t want a future reliant on coal and gas’
The 18-year-old man was arrested in a nearby campsite and taken to Newcastle Police Station.
He will appear before the bail court on Monday.
Oli Leimbach, the frontman of Aussie band Lime Cordiale who performed at a Climate Concert for the protest on Saturday, said it’s ‘time to phase out coal and gas’.
‘Rising Tide’s Climate Concert last night was such a beautiful festival; so many passionate people came together in a peaceful way to demand change from the government,’ Mr Leimbach said in a statement.
‘By taking action today, we added another little exclamation mark on their voices.’
