Coal operations in the world’s largest coal port have been stopped as sixteen people lock on at coal facility
Monday 1st December
Sixteen people have locked on to coal equipment this morning, causing coal loading at the Port of Newcastle to stop, as part of the People’s Blockade of the World’s Biggest Coal Port.
Eight people have locked on to two coal loaders, and a further eight people have locked onto conveyer belts. Police are onsite and in the process of making arrests.
This is the final day of the People’s Blockade of the World’s Largest Coal Port. Over the weekend thousands participated in a flotilla blockade that caused three coal ships to turn around, disrupting the export of hundreds of thousands of tonnes of coal. Media highlights from over the weekend can be found here.
Protestors are calling on the federal government to stop approving new coal mines and tax coal export profits at 78% to fund new industries and retraining to support coal workers and communities as the world transitions away from coal.
Protestors unfurled a banner saying “Stop exporting climate chaos” and wrote “78% tax on fossil fuels” in chalk.
Photos and vision available here, more will be uploaded throughout the day. Rising Tide spokesperson, Zack Schofield is available for comment.
Media contact: 0427 449 696
Fiona Lee, mother, artist and bushfire survivor who locked on to a coal loader says:
“I lost my home in the black summer bushfires in 2019 along with 150 others in my community near Taree. In the last five years we have experienced both the worst bushfires and the worst floods on record. I can not stand by as our government continues to approve the new coal and gas projects that are making these unnatural disasters worse.
“I’ve lived in the Hunter for most of my adult life, and I worry that without a proper plan and funding to support jobs, our communities will be left behind as the world moves away from coal. It’s time that our government starts supporting coal workers by investing in new industries for our region and making coal corporations pay their fair share. That’s why we’re calling for a 78% tax on coal export profits.”
Myles Wilkinson 17-year-old high school student says:
“Today I peacefully disrupted the world’s biggest coal port, because young people like me simply can not afford to ask nicely for climate action anymore. All of my friends are so anxious about the future because we’re inheriting a planet that’s been destroyed by coal and gas companies. I am very sad that I feel like getting arrested is something I have to do, but I also feel anger that it is the responsibility of young people like me to hold corporations and governments to account for their role in driving our planet towards climate catastrophe.”
Zack Schofield, Rising Tide spokesperson:
“We are disrupting coal exports from Newcastle again today because the government is failing to act on climate and failing to support workers with a well funded transition plan to support new jobs and industries.
“The government is protecting the profits of multinational coal corporations instead of providing much needed support for Hunter coal communities who will be most impacted as global markets turn away from polluting coal. That’s why we’re calling for a 78% tax on coal export profits to make coal corporations pay their fair share and fund a community led transition.”
Fiona Lee, locking on to coal facility at world’s largest coal port
Myles Wilkinson, 17-years-old