A young woman has vowed to fight allegations she crashed a boat into a police jet ski during a major climate protest at the Port of Newcastle last year, as more than 120 fellow activists also faced court this week.
Alleged Harbour Collision During Blockade
Asaya Everson, 26, was arrested on November 30, 2025, during the 'People's Blockade of the World's Largest Coal Port', an event organised by the climate group Rising Tide. Police allege that around 10:10am, a boat entered an exclusion zone established around the harbour's shipping channel for the multi-day protest.
Officers attempted to stop the vessel and, when it allegedly failed to comply, gave chase on a jet ski. The prosecution case states that a short time later, while travelling east along Newcastle Harbour, the boat collided with the police jet ski. Everson was the sole occupant of the boat at the time.
Not Guilty Pleas Entered in Local Court
Everson's matter was mentioned for the first time in Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. She entered pleas of not guilty to all three charges laid against her: contravening a notice prohibiting or regulating the use of vessels, operating a recreational vessel negligently, and hindering or resisting police.
Magistrate adjourned the case until March. Under her current bail conditions, Everson is banned from entering Newcastle except for the purpose of attending court proceedings.
Wave of Activist Cases Before the Courts
The court appearance coincided with a significant number of other cases stemming from the same protest. Rising Tide confirmed 129 other protesters were due to face Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday on charges under the Crimes Act and Marine Safety Act. All those matters were adjourned to next month.
In total, 159 people were arrested during the Rising Tide event in November 2025. Of those, seven adults and 18 juveniles were released without charge. Furthermore, more than 100 protesters remain before the courts on charges linked to a similar blockade event held in 2024.
Supporters gathered on the steps of the Newcastle courthouse in a show of solidarity. Among them was Newcastle local and arrestee Jonathon Dykyj, who stated his actions in November were aimed at drawing attention to the climate emergency and the need to build a safer future for the community and workers.
The legal strategy for the group appears to be one of contesting the charges. Rising Tide noted that a hearing has already been successfully run for four people facing what the group describes as 'anti-protest' laws.
