Chaos as nose-ringed climate activist blocks one of Australia’s main coal terminals: ‘OK, the police are here’
- Protester blocks loading terminal at Newcastle Port
- Police officers have been sent to the port
A climate change activist blocks a coal loading terminal at one of the world’s largest coal ports.
The protester, believed to be associated with Blockade Australia, has been hanged from a railway bridge in Newcastle Harbour.
Trains carrying coal are prevented from crossing the railway bridge by the woman’s protest.
A Blockade Australia protester stops coal trains in Newcastle harbor by dangling from a railway bridge (pictured)
Blockade Australia said the protest at the Kooragang Island terminals in the Port of Newcastle “blocks all trains at the main economic bottleneck of the world’s coal industry”.
“This is a coordinated response to Australia’s destruction of the global climate,” the group said.
The woman appears to be dangling from the bridge using abseiling equipment.
“I’m doing this to show that we are not powerless,” the woman said in a live stream during the protest on Monday morning.
“Okay, the cops are here…they’re coming to me, so I’m going to climb a little higher and lock down.”
“Pretty scary…could take a while after this as the adrenaline drops…But also empowering.”
A Newcastle police inspector approached the woman on the bridge at around 8.32am.
“You are trespassing and may be stopped by the police,” the inspector said.
“I am now directing you to leave this location… if you do not comply, you may be committing an offence.”
More to follow.