Police have charged 170 activists who attended a climate protest at Newcastle Harbor after the large group allegedly disrupted the movement of ships.
The demonstration, organized by activism group Rising Tide, took place at the city’s port this weekend.
NSW Police claim a large group of people entered a shipping channel and disrupted the movement of vessels.
The Port Authority of New South Wales suspended all shipping during the incident.
According to police, a total of 156 adults and 14 juveniles have since been charged: 138 for disrupting a major facility and 32 for failing to follow directions from an authorized officer regarding security.
Two people were refused bail at Newcastle Local Court on Monday.
Police will also allege that a police officer broke his ankle during the incident on Sunday.
It will further be claimed that during the arrests 34 people had to be pulled from the water, with ten requiring police assistance to return to shore.
Around 170 activists have been arrested during this weekend’s protest in Newcastle. Image: Facebook
Officers on inflatable police boats and jet skis were seen towing protesters into police vessels
Police also alleged numerous traffic violations unrelated to the water activities, and five people were charged.
Police stated that the group allegedly “entered the shipping channel and posed serious safety risks to themselves and others, significantly disrupting the operation of the port.”
Despite disruptions, the port remains open and operational with 31 ship movements since Friday.
‘The NSW Police recognizes and supports the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their rights to freedom of expression 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 said
Sunday’s event comes after two men and a woman were accused of failing to comply with the directions of an authorized officer regarding safety on Saturday.
The police also state that numerous traffic violations have been committed that have nothing to do with activities on the water
Protesters stepped up their efforts on Sunday, resulting in more arrests. Photo: NewsWire / Dean Sewell
The group, which organized the major multi-day protest, claimed it was a victory that a coal ship had to remain at the dock.
Police say they have “a zero-tolerance policy towards actions that endanger public safety and the safe passage of ships.”
A NSW Port Authority spokesperson confirmed all shipping had been suspended.
“In consultation with NSW Police and stakeholders, a risk-based decision has been made to temporarily suspend shipping,” the spokesperson said.
“The protest activities have compromised the safety of the shipping channel and created an unacceptable potential risk to public safety, the port and the environment.”
Shadow Police Minister Paul Toole slammed the protests, saying they were a major disruption for “hardworking Aussies”.
“This is a shame and cannot simply continue,” Toole said.
‘Rising Tide are (allegedly) repeat offenders of creating anarchy in our ports, disrupting the daily lives of Australians and behaving in an illegal and unacceptable manner.
“They intend to cause the most disruption with the fewest prosecutions possible, and it is time they were properly fined and given prison sentences for their behavior.”
Mr Toole said serious questions need to be asked about why the protest was given the green light to go ahead.
“These protests are disrupting everyday life, whether it is transportation networks, commodity chains, production lines or daily commuters going to work or school, their actions should not be tolerated,” Toole said.
‘Protesters previously mocked the Labor government and sang ‘we are the champions’ as they kayaked into the harbour.
“This is what happens when the government is weak in law and order.
“These professional protesters laughed at the Labor government when they tried to stop them at the last minute and went ahead as planned.”
Police on jet skis were tasked with arresting protesters. Image: Facebook
Images showed at least 150 activists waving anti-coal signs and paddling into the canal in kayaks in bright colors.
Officers on inflatable police boats and jet skis were seen dragging protesters into the police vessel.
Laws in NSW make it illegal to obstruct the safe passage of a vessel.
The police request that no one else block the shipping channel.
“Unlawful activities may result in fines or imprisonment,” police said in a statement.
A spokeswoman for protest organizers Rising Tide said in a video that protesters were cheering about the disruption of ships.
“We have blocked the largest coal port in the world,” said the spokeswoman, who went by Alexa in the caption.
‘The mood here on the beach is just great. Everyone is so excited, so excited and so hopeful.”
The attempt to block the ship was part of a 10-day ‘protestival’ organized by climate activist group Rising Tide, which saw thousands of people visit 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 attended the demonstration. Photo: NewsWire / Dean Sewell.
“Is the real threat to the Hunter region one group of citizens exercising their democratic rights, or continuing to export the materials that will burn the world in a furnace?” Garrett said.
More than 100 people were arrested at last year’s event, which organizers said was the largest climate justice civil disobedience in Australia’s history.
Earlier this month, NSW Police launched proceedings in the NSW Supreme Court to have the protest declared unauthorized on security grounds.
Judge Desmond Fagan ruled in favor of the NSW Police and banned the planned protests on land and water.
But Rising Tide said they retained the right to peaceful assembly.
Maritime NSW attempted to create an exclusion zone around Newcastle Harbour, but that decision was overturned following a successful High Court challenge by Rising Tide.
City of Newcastle Mayor Dr Ross Kerridge released a statement earlier this month supporting the Camp Shortland event going ahead, provided event organizers told people to stay out of the fairway.