Hundreds of demonstrators took to Newcastle’s harbour in canoes and kayaks for a climate protest which resulted in several arrests. The protest which was organised by the advocacy group Rising Tide was promoted as a “blockade” of the biggest coal port in the world.
Several people were arrested Saturday afternoon but the majority were freed without being charged according to a Rising Tide statement.
Three individuals were arrested from the sea at the Port of Newcastle by Marine Area Command officers, according to a police statement.
“Two men aged 27 and 60, and a 26 year-old woman, were arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station where they are assisting police with their inquiries,” the statement mentioned.
Peter Garrett, the vocalist of Midnight Oil and a former environment minister, spoke to the audience and sang a few songs on the occasion.
He said, “I strongly support the peaceful protest that’s planned here. Consider what the scientists are telling us, look at the agreements we’re trying to forge internationally and understand that this is one of the most defining issues of our time.”
Concerns regarding the Arrests:
At the Rising Tide demonstration on Newcastle Harbor last year almost 100 people were taken into custody.
This week’s protestival was started by uncertainty about the event’s format after the NSW Supreme Court ruled in favour of the state’s police commissioner’s request to deny a demonstration request on safety grounds. This implied that authorities could punish demonstrators for stopping ships.
Protesters have the right to peacefully assemble on land and in the sea therefore Rising Tide declared it would proceed with the event. After that Maritime NSW created an exclusion zone for Newcastle Harbor from Thursday evening until Monday but the NSW Supreme Court declared it to be unconstitutional and removed it.
