Police have charged 170 activists who attended a climate protest at Newcastle port after the large group allegedly disrupted the movement of ships.
The demonstration, organized by the activist group Rising Tide, was held at the city’s port this weekend.
NSW Police will allege a large group of people entered a shipping channel and interfered with the movement of vessels.
The Ports of New South Wales Authority suspended all shipping during the incident.
According to police, 156 adults and 14 youths have since been charged in total: 138 with disturbing a major facility and 32 with failing to comply with the instructions of an authorized security officer.
Two people were refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Monday.
Police will also allege that an officer fractured his ankle during Sunday’s incident.
It will further be alleged that 34 people had to be rescued from the water during the arrests and that 10 needed police assistance to return to shore.
Around 170 activists have been arrested during this weekend’s protest in Newcastle. Photo: facebook
Officers in police inflatable boats and jet skis were seen dragging protesters toward police boats.
Police also alleged that numerous traffic violations had been issued that were not related to activities on the water, and five people were charged.
Police stated that the group allegedly “entered the shipping channel and posed serious safety risks to themselves and others, causing significant disruption to the operation of the port.”
Despite the disruptions, the port remains open and continues to operate with 31 shipping movements since Friday.
‘The New South Wales Police Force recognizes and supports the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly; However, NSW Police’s priority 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 charged with failing to follow the instructions of an authorized safety officer on Saturday.
Police also alleged that numerous traffic violations were issued that were unrelated to activities on the water.
Protesters stepped up their efforts on Sunday, resulting in more arrests. Image: NewsWire/Dean Sewell
The group, which organized the large, multi-day protest, claimed that forcing a coal ship to remain in dock was a victory.
Police say they have “a zero-tolerance approach to actions that threaten public safety and the safe passage of vessels.”
A spokesperson for the New South Wales Ports Authority confirmed all shipments had been suspended.
“In consultation with NSW Police and stakeholders, a risk-based decision has been made to temporarily suspend dispatch,” the spokesperson said.
“The protest activity has compromised the security of the shipping channel and has created an unacceptable potential risk to public safety, the port and the environment.”
Shadow Police Minister Paul Toole criticized the protests, saying they were a major disruption to “hardworking Australians”.
“This is a shame and we can’t go on like this,” Toole said.
‘Rising Tide are (allegedly) repeat offenders by creating lawlessness in our ports, disrupting the daily lives of Australians and behaving in an illegal and unacceptable manner.
“They intend to cause the greatest disruption with the least number of prosecutions and it is time they were given appropriate fines and prison terms for their behaviour.”
Toole said serious questions needed to be asked about why the protest was given the green light to go ahead.
“These protests disrupt everyday life, whether on transportation networks, loading chains, production lines or commuters going to work or school – their actions should not be tolerated,” Mr Toole said.
‘Earlier, protesters were mocking the Labor government, blasting the song ‘we are the champions’ as they kayaked towards the harbour.
‘This is what happens when the Government is soft on law and order.
“These professional protesters 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. Photo: facebook
Footage showed at least 150 activists waving anti-coal signs and dressed in bright colors paddling toward the canal in kayaks.
Officers in police inflatable boats and jet skis were seen dragging protesters into the police boat.
New South Wales laws make it illegal to obstruct the safe passage of a vessel.
The police are not asking anyone else to block the shipping channel.
“Illegal activity can result in fines or imprisonment,” police say in a statement.
A spokeswoman for protest organizers Rising Tide said in a video that protesters were ecstatic about disrupting the boats.
“We have blocked the largest coal port in the world,” said the spokeswoman, identified as Alexa in the caption.
‘The humor here on the beach is just incredible. “Everyone is very enthusiastic, excited and hopeful.”
The attempt to block the ship was part of a 10-day “protest” organized 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 attended the demonstration. Image: NewsWire / Dean Sewell.
‘Is the real threat to the Hunter region a group of citizens exercising their democratic rights or continuing to export the materials that will burn the world in a furnace?’ Garrett said.
Last year, more than 100 people were arrested at the event, which organizers said was the largest civil disobedience for climate justice in Australian history.
Earlier this month, New South Wales Police launched proceedings in the New South Wales Supreme Court to have the protest deemed unauthorized on security grounds.
Judge Desmond Fagan ruled in favor of the New South Wales police and banned 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 Supreme Court challenge by the Rising Tide.
Newcastle City Mayor Dr Ross Kerridge issued a statement earlier this month providing support for the event to take place at Camp Shortland, as long as event organizers told people to stay out of the shipping channel.