Australian climate protesters bring the world’s largest coal port to a halt
Two climate activists in Australia climbed up giant machinery at the Australian port of Newcastle yesterday, halting exports from the word’s busiest coal port.
The pair, taking part in protests organised by climate group Blockade Australia, strapped themselves to loading machinery high up in the port
“Zianna and Hannah have shut down Newcastle coal port, abseiling from coal handling machinery. The port cannot resume operations until the pair are removed by police,” the group said, identifying the activists by their first names only, adding “This is the tenth consecutive day of disruption to Newcastle coal port and its supply rail network.”
Police were called in to remove the activists. Meanwhile, two other Blockade Australia protesters carried out similar actions at the ports, managing to switch equipment off and also strap themselves to other port equipment.
Protests have disrupted the port and surrounding rail infrastructure in the past two weeks, prompting police to establish a strike force to crack down on the high-profile stunts.
“Pull your heads in, get out of the way and stop hurting other people going about their lives, running their businesses,” New South Wales’ environment minister Matt Kean said during a radio interview on Wednesday.
“Pull your heads in, get out of the way and stop hurting other people going about their lives, running their businesses,” New South Wales’ environment minister Matt Kean said.
Interesting when billions will be hurt and millions of businesses will fail unless we stop using coal, so exactly which environment is the minister’s brief?
It is obvious from your article that you have never been to Newcastle and observed the Loading Facilities at Carrington and Kooragang. The Porthas not stopped. Eight freighters in and eight out continues every day. It is impossible for a few protesters to stop the whole process. More fact and less ignorance please.
So why is Matt Kean throwing his toys out of the pram?
Matt Kean, the environment minister for New South Wales state, speaking on Sydney radio 2GB on Wednesday, said police need to “throw the book” at anti-coal activists, describing their dramatic stunts as “completely out of line.”
A local police minister described the protests as “nothing short of economic vandalism.” (A spokeswoman for the Port of Newcastle said other operations at the port were continuing, beyond the rail lines and coal-loading facilities.)
ScoMo et al are an international disgrace.