A multi-day climate protest at Newcastle’s coal port has begun, despite the New South Wales government’s efforts to stop it.
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00:00Protesters have assembled here this morning on Newcastle's Horseshoe Beach as part of
00:07a multi-day protest action, protesting mainly against coal exports from the Port of Newcastle.
00:14Now the Port of Newcastle is the world's largest coal port, it exports more coal than anyone
00:20anywhere else in the world, so that's why these climate activists have chosen to hold
00:25this multi-day action here in Newcastle.
00:28Now we are hearing from police here on the beach this morning, there are a number of
00:33officers here who are reminding these protesters about safety.
00:37The New South Wales Police Force was successful in a Supreme Court bid to prevent protesters
00:43who are due to take the water in kayaks, canoes and other watercraft, that they aren't able
00:48to enter the waterway and the shipping channel in specific.
00:52They are able to enter some areas of the waterway, but have to keep a safe distance from the
00:58coal ships and other ships that we see like the one behind me.
01:01So there are constant reminders coming from police here on the beach this morning, reminding
01:06them of their safety obligations and warning protesters that if they do breach that, they
01:12could be arrested and could face charges.
01:16Protesters here this morning have said that this action is necessary, they are demanding
01:20more action from the New South Wales Government on coal and stopping new approvals for things
01:26like coal mines, several of which have happened in the Hunter region recently.
01:31And the New South Wales Government has really echoed the New South Wales Police Force's
01:36calls to be safe in this protest action.
01:39And the Police Force and the New South Wales Government though have recognised that these
01:44protesters do have the right to protest against what they value, but they must do it safely.