Police have charged 170 activists who attended a climate protest in the Port of Newcastle, after the large group allegedly disrupted the movement of vessels.
The demonstration, organised by activism group Rising Tide, was held at the city’s harbour this weekend.
NSW Police will allege a large group of people entered a shipping channel and interfered with the movement of vessels.
The Port Authority of New South Wales suspended all shipping during the incident.
According to police, 156 adults and 14 youths have since been charged in total – 138 with disruption of a major facility, and 32 with not complying with direction by authorised officer relating to safety.
Two people were refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Monday.
Police will also allege one police officer fractured their ankle during the incident on Sunday.
It will be further alleged that 34 people were required to be retrieved from the water during arrests with 10 required police assistance to return to shore.
Around 170 activists have been arrested over this weekend’s protest in Newcastle. Picture: Facebook
Officers on inflatable police boats and on jet skis were seen dragging protestors into police vessels
Police also alleged there were numerous traffic infringements issued that were unrelated to the activities on the water, and five people were charged.
Police stated the group allegedly ‘entered the shipping channel and presented serious safety risks to themselves and others, causing significant disruptions to the operation of the harbour’.
Despite disruptions, the harbour remains open and continues to operate with 31 shipping movements occurring since Friday.
‘The NSW Police Force recognises and supports the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their rights of free speech and peaceful assembly; 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, a statement read
Sunday’s event comes after two men and a woman were charged with not comply with direction by authorised officer relating to safety on Saturday.
Police also alleged there were numerous traffic infringements issued that were unrelated to the activities on the water
Protesters stepped up efforts on Sunday, resulting in more arrests. Picture: NewsWire / Dean Sewell
The group, which has organised the large multi-day protest, claimed a coal ship being forced to stay at the dock was a win.
Police say they have ‘a zero-tolerance approach to actions which threaten public safety and the safe passage of vessels’.
A Port Authority of NSW spokesman confirmed that all shipping had been suspended.
‘In consultation with NSW Police and stakeholders a risk-based decision has been made to temporarily pause shipping,’ the spokesman said.
‘The protest activity has compromised the safety of the shipping channel and led to an unacceptable potential risk to public safety, the port and the environment.’
Shadow police minister Paul Toole slammed the protests, stating they were a major disruption to ‘hardworking Aussies’.
‘This is a disgrace and can’t just keep going on,’ Mr Toole said.
‘Rising Tide are (allegedly) repeat offenders of creating anarchy in our ports, disrupting the daily lives of Australians and conducting themselves in an illegal and unacceptable manner.
‘They are intent on causing the most disruption for the fewest prosecutions and it’s about time they are properly fined and given imprisonment terms for their behaviour.’
Mr Toole said serious questions needed to be asked as to why the protest was given the green light to go ahead.
‘These protests disrupt everyday lives, whether it’s transport networks, freight chains, production lines or everyday commuters getting to work or to school, their actions should not be tolerated,’ Mr Toole said.
‘Protestors were earlier mocking the Labor Government, blasting the song ‘we are the champions’ as they kayaked into the port.
‘This is what happens when the Government is soft on law and order.
‘These professional protestors laughed in the face of the Labor Government when they tried to stop them at the last minute and continued as planned.’
Police on jet skis were tasked with arresting protesters. Picture: Facebook
Images showed at least 150 activists waving anti-coal signs, wearing bright colours paddling into the channel in kayaks.
Officers on inflatable police boats and on jet skis were seen dragging protestors into the police vessel.
Laws in NSW make it illegal to obstruct the safe passage of a vessel.
Police are requesting no one else to block the shipping channel.
‘Unlawful activity may result in fines or imprisonment,’ police say in a statement.
A spokeswoman for protest organisers Rising Tide said in a video demonstrators were jubilant about disrupting ships.
‘We have blockaded the world’s largest coal port,’ said the spokeswoman, named as Alexa in the caption.
‘Mood here on the beach is just amazing. Everyone is so pumped, so excited, and so hopeful.’
The attempt to block the ship was part of a 10-day ‘protestival’ being hosted by climate activist group Rising Tide, which has seen thousands of people descend on the world’s largest coal port.
Midnight Oil frontman and former Labor MP Peter Garrett performed at the protest with his bandmate guitarist Martin Rotsey.
Thousands of people have turned up to the demonstration. Picture: NewsWire / Dean Sewell.
‘Is the real threat to the Hunter region a group of citizens exercising their democratic rights, or in continuing to export the materials that will burn the world up in a furnace?’ Garrett said.
Last year more than 100 people were arrested at the event, which organisers said was the largest civil disobedience for climate justice in Australia’s history.
Earlier this month, NSW Police launched proceedings in the NSW Supreme Court to have the protest deemed unauthorised on safety grounds.
Justice Desmond Fagan found in favour of the NSW Police and prohibited the planned protests on land and on the water.
But Rising Tide said they retained the right to peaceful assembly.
Maritime NSW attempted to create an exclusion zone around the Newcastle Harbour but that decision was set aside following a successful Supreme Court challenge by Rising Tide.
City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Dr Ross Kerridge released a statement earlier this month providing support for the event to go ahead at Camp Shortland, provided event organisers told people to stay of out of the shipping channel.
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