Eight Arrested as Kayak Protesters Blockade World's Largest Coal Port
Climate activists, including a doctor and an 84-year-old, staged a three-day protest in Newcastle Harbour, calling for an end to new coal and gas projects.
- The protest, organized by Rising Tide, aimed to disrupt coal exports at the Port of Newcastle, the world's largest coal port.
- Participants included a diverse group of activists, such as a 16-year-old student, a local doctor, and an 84-year-old great-grandmother.
- Eight protesters were arrested for breaching police checkpoints, with some released without charge and others facing restrictions from the port area.
- The demonstration included a festival with performances by Midnight Oil's Peter Garrett, who criticized government inaction on climate change.
- Rising Tide demands a halt to new fossil fuel projects and a 78% tax on coal and gas exports to fund renewable energy transitions.