NSW Labor, Newcastle council try to ban climate protests during COP31 summit

As Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hypocritically professed concern at the COP31 climate summit for the existential threat to Pacific Island states from the climate emergency, NSW Labor is trying to stop peaceful protests for climate action. 

Planned to coincide with COP31, the Paddle for the Planet mass paddle-out and flotilla in Newcastle Harbour organised by the climate action group Rising Tide (RT) on November 14 is set to be the biggest climate protests of the year.

Muloobinba/Newcastle is the world’s biggest coal port and the Chris Minns NSW Labor government is going to extreme lengths to expand coal and gas mining, even as United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres told COP31 that fossil fuels “must go the way of the dinosaurs”.

According to the Climate Council, since coming to power, the Albanese government has approved 39 new, expanded or extended coal, oil and gas developments.

“The government’s 2025 reforms to approval laws failed the climate test, and continue to give new coal and gas projects a free pass to pollute.”

With the support of Minns, Newcastle City Council made the shock decision to never again authorise or licence RT to use community-owned land for Rising Tide events or protests. The motion also bans “associates, subsidiaries, other groups and individuals” from holding protests or events on council land. 

While Greens councillors and most Labor councillors voted against this anti-democratic motion — which was moved with just half an hour’s notice by independent Mayor Gavin Morris — Labor councillor Declan Clausen supported the ban. After the vote tied 6–6, it was passed by Morris’ casting vote. 

Steve O’Brien, Socialist Alliance candidate for Newcastle in the March 2027 NSW election, told Green Left that the council’s ban motion was “an outrageous attack on our democratic right to protest”.

“The climate emergency is real and climate activists are defending the future for us all and for future generations.”

Rising Tide is seeking legal advice and may decide to challenge this ban in the courts. It has launched a petition for the ban to be reversed, which hit 3000 signatures in less than 24 hours.

The ban does not directly affect the Paddle for the Planet because it is being held at Horseshoe Beach, which is not council owned, however, it coincided with NSW Police’s Supreme Court bid to oppose Rising Tide’s “Notice of Intention to Hold a Public Assembly” (Form 1) for the paddle out.

NSW Police, backed by Minns and police minister Yasmin Catley, claimed it had “serious safety concerns”. The Supreme Court will hand down its decision on November 13.

Rising Tide spokesperson Alexa Stuart said: “The real safety issue here is the Minns Labor government's reckless expansion of coal and gas. 

“We’re already feeling the devastating impacts of the climate crisis, and scientists project that almost half a million people around the world will die by February due to the climate-fueled super El Nino.”

Stuart said Paddle for the Planet would go on regardless of the attempts to block it.

“It’s shocking that NSW Police are attempting to shut down a family-friendly protest calling for a safe and livable planet. The Minns Labor government is hell-bent on suppressing peaceful protest, and this is yet another attempt to silence dissent rather than actually take meaningful action on the climate crisis.

“On Saturday, in the middle of the United Nations COP31 climate negotiations, hundreds will protest at the World’s Largest Coal Port. We refuse to stand by whilst our [federal Labor] government claims to be climate leaders on the world stage, while back home fuelling the climate crisis through the approval of 38 new coal and gas projects.”

People taking part in Paddle for the Planet are urged to register here.

[Sign the petition to reverse Newcastle City Council’s ban on Rising Tide events.]