In a dramatic display of civil disobedience, climate activists from the Rising Tide organisation have successfully disrupted operations at the world's largest coal port in Newcastle, Australia. Over the course of a six-day protest, kayak-bound protesters managed to turn multiple coal ships away from the critical shipping channel, leading to more than 130 arrests.
The Paddle That Stopped Coal Ships
Among those taking direct action was 71-year-old Annabelle*, who travelled from Melbourne to participate in what has become one of Australia's largest annual climate protests. Despite knowing arrest was likely, she joined hundreds of others in kayaks who paddled into the port's exclusion zone when a coal ship approached.
"I just paddled and paddled, madly paddled," Annabelle told reporters after her arrest. "I was determined to get into that channel, it's the first time I've done something like this, and I wanted to stop that ship."
Her determination paid off when cheers erupted from fellow protesters as the ship turned around, marking the third vessel successfully blocked on the fourth day of the six-day demonstration.
Festival Atmosphere Meets Serious Protest
The event blended serious climate activism with an almost festival-like atmosphere at Newcastle's Foreshore Park. While the underlying issue remained deeply concerning, the gathering featured a community kitchen, live music performances, and educational tents providing legal information and non-violent direct action training.
Horseshoe Beach became the focal point of the water-based protest, jam-packed with participants waving climate action flags and dancing in costumes. The water surface transformed into a colourful mosaic of kayaks as protesters prepared to challenge the exclusion zone established by the Minns government.
By Monday morning, more than 130 people had been arrested and charged under either the Marine Safety Act or Crimes Act for blocking the shipping lane. The NSW government had specifically created an exclusion zone around most of Newcastle Port, giving police additional powers to arrest anyone crossing beyond the yellow buoys marking the restricted area.
Coal Worker Joins Protest for Transition
Among the diverse crowd was 22-year-old Zac Tritton, who works within the Newcastle coal industry but participated in the protest out of concern about climate collapse. He highlighted the misleading rhetoric from coal corporations that suggests protesters threaten communities and jobs.
"We need to be prepared for it," Tritton said, referencing recent Treasury modelling that found Australia's coal and gas exports will plunge by 50% in the next five years. "At the heart of the fears of these people in the industry is that their communities will be uprooted, that their livelihoods will be lost."
Rising Tide's core demands include:
- Immediate cancellation of all new fossil fuel projects
- Taxing fossil fuel profits at 78% to fund community and industrial transition
- Ending coal exports from Newcastle by 2030
Newcastle Deputy Lord Mayor Charlotte McCabe acknowledged council concerns about supporting workers in declining industries, noting they have been calling for transitional support from state and federal governments.
Despite government warnings about safety and recklessness, organiser Zack Schofield defended the protests, stating: "Because Newcastle is the world's largest coal port, we have in Newcastle a responsibility at a global scale to do everything in our power to protect the future generations of the entire planet."
For Annabelle and many others, the risk of arrest became reality but brought a sense of accomplishment. After being charged with blocking a major facility - an offence carrying a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment or a $22,000 fine - she returned to the protest camp to triumphant applause, waving the yellow charge slip police had given her.
*Name has been changed to protect identity
