More than 100 people have been charged after a climate change protest at the Port of Newcastle.
The activists, including a 97-year-old grandfather and a coal miner, had permission for a 30-hour protest at the world’s largest coal port but when they refused to leave at 4pm on Sunday, police moved in.
Subsequently, 109 people – including 49 males, 60 females, five of which were under 18 – were arrested.
They were all issued court attendance notices trying to interfere with other vessels on the water.
Two men, aged 23 and 65, were refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today, while the remainder will appear on January 11 next year.
The five juveniles were released. Police said they will be “dealt with” as alleged young offenders.
Protest organiser Rising Tide said after initially continuing to kayak in formation in the channel, the protesters complied with officers and got on police boats.
Rising Tide organiser Alexa Stuart called on the Albanese government to block new coal projects and tax coal export profits at 75 per cent to help fund the move away from fossil fuels.
The 20-year-old’s grandfather, Reverend Alan Stuart, 97, was by her side for the protest.
“I just think of the young people growing up that I knew,” he said.
“What sort of world are they going to be in? It’s going to be a much less, what should I say, attractive, than I, than we know.
“People are going to be, they’re going to find it difficult to cope in many, many, many situations and I think the final result in all of this is death.”
Coal miner Grant Howard said he wanted the transition to renewables was already happening and he wanted miners to be part of the conversation, according to Rising Tide.
