Protesters formed a “blockade” in the Port of Newcastle on Sunday in the third day of unrest, calling on the federal government to rule out new coal and gas mines and for a 78 per cent tax on coal and gas exports.
“Thousands of people from across the country have joined locals here to do what the Albanese government has failed to do - protect Australians from the worst impacts of climate change,” she said.
“Despite the government’s attempts to shut down our peaceful blockade, today we have successfully blockaded the world’s largest coal port.”
Ships temporarily stopped travelling through the area as a result of the protest, the port authority said.
Small edit: RT’s insta is covering all of this in fabulous detail
That’s me! Let me dump the important info here:
I was one of three people arrested yesterday (Saturday 23 Nov), the first taken into custody by police as part of the peoples blockade in Newcastle New South Wales Australia, the world’s largest coal port.
Today, a further 170 passionate people from all walks of life were arrested. Children, great grandparents, doctors etc, everyone was represented on the water. This was the largest civil disobedience action in Australian history.
5000 people were in attendence, and we have generated 2840 news articles (so far), almost all are positive.
We have a right to disrupt corporations who are burning our children’s futures to the ground all in the name of profit, and we will be heard. We have sent an intensely strong message today to the New South Wales and Australian governments, we want an end to coal exports and mining with a 78% tax on current coal mines.
We have overturned their attempts to illegally stop our protest, both in court and on the water.
For me, this was about the children. I was able to grow up thinking my future was bright, and the children of today have a right to the same. I will fight for them, and I feel much of Australia is on our side.
I’ve had to watch today online due to my bail conditions, but I’m so fucking proud of all my friends up there, they’re making a huge wave and that will now be carried to Canberra where the protest will continue at the federal parliament.
Thank you! It’s people like you who give others hope for a better future.
Thank you for your kind words, but I’d stress that I’m just a normal person, we all have the power to make change if we just try.
Those are powerful words, and what I would like the “better than the other party” voters in my nation to comprehend. Politicians have power because we wring our hands and acquiesce. When we reach across political divides and join hands, miracles happen. It involves willingness to have real risks and hard work to achieve miraculous results, but they can be had. Thanks so very much for saying that.
Thank you for fighting for all of us!
💚💚💚
Oh shit you scared me with RT, I thought you were saying the facist russian propaganda channel lol.
Lmao sorry. I may be a radical leftist but I’m not a tankie
Hahhahah. I was like noooo. This person who seems to be a wonderful climate advocate got taken into the tankie bullshit.
Glad that’s not the case, and thank you for your service.
-a fellow radical leftist