A flotilla of climate activists in kayaks successfully disrupted shipping at Australia’s major Port of Newcastle on Sunday, leading to the arrest of 21 individuals in the second such protest in as many days.
The activist group Rising Tide organised the demonstration, where hundreds of protestors paddled into the harbour’s main shipping channel to block coal exports. The Port of Newcastle, located 170 km north of Sydney, is the world’s largest coal export terminal.
A port spokesperson confirmed the protest’s significant impact, stating that general cargo movements, including a shipment of alumina destined for a critical aluminum smelter, were being aborted. “A coal ship was earlier denied entry to the port on safety concerns due to protesters in the water,” the spokesperson added.
The New South Wales Police reported that the 21 individuals were charged with alleged marine-related offences following the day’s events. In a separate but coordinated action, Greenpeace Australia Pacific stated that three of its activists boarded a coal carrier near the port to prevent its operation.
“This is a peaceful uprising for a safe climate,” said a spokesperson for Rising Tide. “We are taking this action because the Australian government continues to approve new coal and gas projects, fueling the climate crisis.”
The protest highlights the deep political division in Australia over climate policy. While the nation’s government has committed to a net-zero emissions target by 2050, Australia remains one of the world’s top exporters of coal. This weekend’s actions, following a similar protest on Saturday that resulted in 11 arrests, signal a renewed wave of direct action aimed at the nation’s fossil fuel industry.