Australian police have detained more than 30 climate protesters over the weekend after a large-scale blockade targeted the Port of Newcastle, the world’s largest coal export terminal. What began as a planned "People’s Blockade" quickly evolved into a major standoff between environmental groups and authorities, with demonstrators attempting to physically interrupt the passage of coal ships using kayaks, small boats, and direct-action climbing tactics.

New South Wales police confirmed that 32 individuals were charged with various marine-related offences from Saturday into early Sunday, arguing that several participants engaged in "unsafe practices" on the water. Officials reiterated that law enforcement would maintain a "zero-tolerance" stance toward activities that threaten maritime safety or disrupt vessel movement.

Thousands at the #RisingTide People’s Blockade of #Newcastle , the world’s largest coal port, are not happy with Labor’s failure to stop expanding fossil fuel projects. Its Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation law excludes consideration #climate crisis! pic.twitter.com/7hk2I2p3xN

— Green Left (@GreenLeftOnline) November 29, 2025

Rising Tide

The protest, organised by Rising Tide, drew hundreds of participants to Newcastle’s harbour over the weekend, part of a broader mobilization expected to bring thousands to the port. The group said its flotillas entered restricted shipping lanes repeatedly, compelling at least two coal carriers to turn away instead of entering the port. Nearly 100 people in about 50 kayaks took to the water again on Sunday as part of the coordinated blockade.

The action marked the third consecutive year of large-scale civil disobedience in the harbour. Previous blockades in 2024 saw over 170 arrests and an estimated 7,000 people participate. Activists say this growing "protestival" mode, mixing direct action with concerts, public assemblies, and workshops, is meant to draw national attention to Australia’s reliance on coal and gas despite its stated climate commitments.

Greenpeace targets coal

The weekend also saw a separate Greenpeace-led operation in which activists scaled the coal vessel Yangze 16. They unfurled a banner calling for a rapid end to fossil fuel use. Police deployed a helicopter and placed officers directly onto the deck, detaining two people after a seven-hour occupation. Greenpeace said the action was designed to expose the contradiction between Australia’s climate rhetoric and its global role in fossil fuel markets.

"As the world’s third-largest fossil fuel exporter, Australia plays an outsized role in the climate crisis," said Joe Rafalowicz, climate activist at Greenpeace Australia Pacific. He urged the Albanese government to set a clear schedule to phase out coal and gas and to stop approving new extraction projects. "Greenpeace stands with all peaceful climate defenders who are advocating for real climate action at the Blockade, and all around Australia," he added.

Port officials downplayed the overall disruption, insisting that departures continued and that "vessel operations will continue tomorrow as scheduled." But safety concerns prompted temporary pauses in ship movement, and police said the marine exclusion zone had been repeatedly breached throughout the weekend.

Weak reforms

The confrontation unfolded days after Australia adopted new environmental reporting laws requiring major carbon-emitting operations to disclose their greenhouse gas output and outline pollution-reduction targets. However, climate advocates argue the reforms do little to constrain the government’s continued approval of high-emitting projects. The Climate Council warned that the legislation fails to require decision-makers to weigh a project’s total climate pollution before issuing approval.

Despite substantial public and private investment in renewable energy, Australia’s economy continues to be structurally tied to fossil fuel extraction. It remains one of the world’s top coal exporters, holds the third-largest coal reserves globally, and still channels billions in subsidies toward the sector each year. Activists say blockades like the one in Newcastle will persist until the government commits to a full phase-out of coal and gas.

Rising Tide organizers argue that civil disobedience is now a necessary tool in confronting what they describe as political inaction on the climate crisis. With thousands expected to join the protest in the coming days, the Newcastle blockade is poised to become one of the most significant climate actions in Australia this year.

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