By Michael West
NSW Police have dropped charges against the remaining climate protesters from Rising Tide’s 2024 People’s Blockade of Newcastle Harbour — the site of the world’s largest coal port.
Climate Defenders Australia, which represented 117 of the arrestees, had repeatedly petitioned police to withdraw anti-protest charges after they failed to prosecute test cases, and were required to pay A$73,000 in costs.
- READ MORE: Police drop charges against 125 Rising Tide protesters two years after Newcastle port blockade
- Rising Tide climate activists say they feel ‘vindicated’ after more than 100 charges are dropped
- Other Rising Tide protest reports
Another 100 arrestees remain charged from the 2025 Rising Tide protest — the backlog for police and courts is another measure of the failure of Premier Chris Minns’ draconian anti-protest laws.
Michael West established Michael West Media in 2016 to focus on journalism of high public interest, particularly the rising power of corporations over democracy. West was formerly a journalist and editor with Fairfax newspapers, a columnist for News Corp and even, once, a stockbroker.
Flashback: Heavy police presence as climate activists blockade Newcstle port Video: ABC News
