New South Wales police have arrested 141 people during Rising Tide protests that began on Thursday at Newcastle Harbour, the world's largest coal export port. The arrests included 121 individuals charged with marine-related offences and 18 dealt with under the Young Offenders Act, with two more in the process of being charged.
The Port Authority of NSW suspended all shipping movements for three hours on Sunday afternoon after hundreds of protesters took to the water on kayaks and watercraft, blocking coal ships. The authority stated that a 'dynamic risk-based decision was made to abort the movement of an inbound ship movement … due to alleged protester activity posing a risk to safety,' affecting two additional vessels.
Three activists suspended themselves from the bulk carrier Yangze 16 using professional climbing equipment and unfurled a five-metre-long banner. Greenpeace Australia Pacific campaigner Joe Rafalowicz said the activists were calling on the government to stop approving new fossil fuel projects. Rising Tide community organiser Zack Schofield expressed gratitude for Greenpeace's support, describing the action as 'entirely proportionate to the scale of the problem of the climate crisis.'
The protest forced two bulk carriers to turn around: the 85,000-tonne Ragna coal ship on Sunday afternoon and the Cemtex Leader on Saturday morning after police advised of swimmers in the shipping channel. Another vessel carrying alumina for the Tomago smelter was also unable to enter the port on Sunday and rescheduled for Monday morning.
NSW Police adopted a 'zero-tolerance approach to actions which threaten public safety and the safe passage of vessels,' with a marine exclusion zone in place until 7am Monday. Police Minister Yasmin Catley condemned the protest, warning that anyone breaching the exclusion zone would be arrested. Former Fire and Rescue NSW commissioner Greg Mullins spoke at the event, saying the worsening fires due to climate change were frightening but that he was lifted by everyday Australians taking action.
