Two-hour shifts and halted exports: Blockade of Australia's largest coal port continues

KEY POINTSClimate activists have blocked ships from entering or leaving the world’s largest coal port in Newcastle.They are calling on the federal government to stop new fossil fuel projects.The Port of Newcastle contributes to roughly 2 per cent of the world’s global coal supply.

Protesters have spent the night blockading the world’s largest coal port over what they say is the failure of government to act on climate change.

Several hundred protesters blocked Newcastle Port’s shipping lane on Saturday, remaining overnight and into Sunday with the action due to end at 4pm.

The group behind the protest, Rising Tide, claims over half a million tonnes of coal will be prevented from leaving the port for the duration of the action.

Protesters are demanding the government stop allowing new coal projects, tax fossil fuel export profits at 75 per cent to fund community and industrial transition and pay for climate loss and damage.

Rising Tide community organiser and spokesperson Zack Schofield said safety was paramount as the protesters spent the night on the water, rostered in two-hour shifts.

He said police had granted permission for the protest to take place following several months of negotiations with organisers.

Greens, Labor, NSW Minerals Council at odds over protest, climate policy

Greens Leader Adam Bandt, who kayaked out with protesters on Saturday called those taking part heroes.

Bandt led

, adopt a 75 per cent emissions reduction target and stop coal exports from Newcastle.

“They’re fighting to stop more floods and bushfires in this country,” Bandt said.

“People here know that we’re nearing a climate tipping point, and that coal and gas are fuelling the climate crisis.

“In the middle of the

Labor is making the problem worse by opening more coal and gas mines,” he said.

Adam Bandt says governments and corporations care more about money than the safety of Australians. Source: AAP / James Ross

Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen decried the Greens’ action and pointed to his government’s new investments in batteries for wind and solar farms.

“While the Greens are protesting, we are progressing jobs growth and emissions reductions by developing offshore wind,” he told the Australian Associated Press.

NSW Minerals Council chief executive Stephen Galilee denounced the protesters as “extremists”.

Newcastle Port contributes to roughly 2 per cent of the world’s global coal supply and its exports generate billions in royalties for the state government.

Galilee said the disruption would not change global coal demand or supply but would have a major impact on the NSW economy.

Bandt said governments and corporations cared more about money than the safety of Australian communities.

“People are fed up because Labor is not listening and now people are making their voices heard,” he said.

Labor’s promises and actions since winning office

During the 2022 election, Labor positioned itself as the more environmentally friendly of the two major parties, committing to

To achieve this, the nation needs to reduce its greenhouse gas output by 43 per cent within the next decade.

But since entering office, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has approved four new coal projects that would produce an estimated 147 million tonnes of emissions across their lifetimes, according to the Australia Institute.