Rising Tide is set to hold its Paddle for the Planet event in Newcastle this weekend
Grassroots climate group Rising Tide is facing off against the NSW Police in the Supreme Court of NSW over a legal challenge to its Paddle for the Planet protest in Newcastle.
The protest is set to be held on Saturday 14 November and focuses on seeking new jobs and funding for coal workers. It also urges the cultivation of a safe, liveable climate for all, according to a media release by Rising Tide’s legal representative Climate Defenders Australia.
During the event, participants will paddle out to the Port of Newcastle, which is the world’s biggest coal port according to Climate Defenders Australia. Family-friendly events will also take place on Horseshoe Beach.
Climate Defenders Australia stressed that this protest differs from Rising Tide’s more disruptive People’s Blockade flotilla.
“This case is important for protest rights, as our client tries to have a short and safe protest on waters that carry Australian coal out of the country to be burnt offshore contributing to climate change and causing more intense extreme weather events”, said Dr Josh Pallas, Climate Defenders Australia’s legal director, in a statement.
In line with NSW law, Rising Tide had submitted a Form 1 Notice of intention to hold a public assembly back in September informing the police of the protest. Following a lack of response from the police, the group followed up several times before learning on 5 November that the NSW police commissioner had applied to the Supreme Court to ban the assembly.
“We have prepared this case under extreme time pressure. The commissioner sat on our client’s Form 1 Notice from 17 September until they commenced proceedings on 5 November”, Pallas said. “This is not how the government should be treating concerned citizens who want to peacefully protest about a political issue”.
He explained that coal in the Hunter region was a “red-hot issue” at present.
“Instead of heaping coals on the fire, governments could be listening to the science and transitioning away from fossil fuels today. It’s no wonder people want to protest. And they should be allowed to”, Pallas said.
The Guardian reported that on the night of Tuesday 10 November, Newcastle council had voted to ban Rising Tide from conducting events on its land following a consultation with NSW premier Chris Minns, who told the council that it would be complicit should unlawful activities happen at the protests.
