Police lines established in Newcastle Harbour as People’s Blockade of World’s Largest Coal Port enters second day

Friday 28 November

NSW Police have placed a line of buoys in Newcastle Harbour marking out an ‘exclusion zone’ (vision and photos available here) as hundreds gather at Foreshore Park for the beginning of the People’s Blockade of the World’s Largest Coal Port. 

The NSW government has declared a Marine Exclusion Zone in an attempt to stop Rising Tide blockading coal ships. The Exclusion Zone notice can be found here. The Zone will come into effect from 7:00am Friday 28 November and last until 7:00am Monday 1 December, and will be enforced 100m off Horseshoe Beach, Newcastle.

But Alexa Stuart, Rising Tide organiser and Newcastle local says tomorrow and Sunday’s flotilla launches will go ahead.

 “Despite the NSW government's attempts to shut us down, the People’s Blockade of the World’s Largest Coal Port is happening. People from all over Australia are joining us here in our hometown of Newcastle. 

“This is the largest mobilisation for climate action in Australia this year, with thousands of ordinary citizens uniting to demand our government stops approving new coal and gas projects and heavily tax coal corporations to fund a community-led transition away from coal.”

Rising Tide says numbers are steadily growing at the People’s Blockade and are expected to swell beyond 7000 over the weekend when a peaceful blockade of coal ships in Newcastle Harbour is planned, in defiance of the NSW government. A full program for the event can be accessed here.  

Press conference 10AM at Horseshoe Beach where the below spokespeople will be available for comment. Google maps pin here.

Professor David Hood AM, grandfather and civil and environmental engineer and former president of Engineers Australia says: 

“If the government keeps approving coal and gas mines that will harm my grandkids for generations, then yes — I will break the law to stop it and that will be perfectly justified in doing so.” 

“Parliament has just passed environment law reforms that still approve new coal mines. After nearly 60 years as an engineer, I can say with absolute clarity: you cannot protect the environment while opening new coal and gas. That is engineering 101.

“New coal mines should be illegal. What shouldn’t be illegal is a grandfather paddling a kayak to defend the only climate his grandkids will inherit.”

Newcastle surgeon, Dr Stanley Chen, says:

“The medical profession played a leading role in highlighting the dangers of smoking and campaigning for a ban on its advertising. Since our governments continue to approve new coal and gas projects, we find ourselves again obliged to act as advocates against another irresponsible and harmful addiction, namely fossil fuel dependence. And that includes supporting public protest action such as the People's Blockade, to send a powerful message to our governments and the world that aiding and abetting the coal and gas industry is immoral.”

Media contact: 0414199645 / media@risingtide.org.au