Hundreds of people take to the water at Newcastle Harbour to protest coal exports, with the action centred on Australia’s coal shipping route and the adjacent world-scale coal port. Protesters from the Rising Tide activism group call for coal exports from Newcastle to end by 2030, while also saying workers need support to shift into other industries.
Coverage highlights that the protest proceeds despite efforts by police and the New South Wales government to stop it. One outlet reports the event continues after an 11th-hour Supreme Court development, and describes protesters paddling on kayaks and water crafts while more people gather onshore. Another reports on the scale of participation, saying more than 900 people register for the paddle-out and that no arrests are made.
Across outlets, the common focus is the attempt to link coal exports with climate impacts and the demand for a transition plan for workers. The main differences are the reported participant numbers, the extent of police/political attempts to block the event, and the legal detail provided about how the protest is able to go ahead.
