Solidarity shown to climate action group Rising Tide

Many community-based groups are showing their support for climate action group Rising Tide, which is battling NSW Labor, Newcastle City Council and NSW Police to organise a peaceful protest on Newcastle Harbour, the world’s biggest coal port, on November 14.

You can register for the Paddle for the Planet here, and sign the petition to reverse Newcastle Council's ban on Rising Tide events here.

Below are some of the solidarity statements.

Sydney Students for Climate stands with Rising Tide against the outrageous decision by the City of Newcastle to permanently ban climate protests from council-owned land.

The undemocratic attack on protest rights was passed by the mayor’s deciding vote, after a 6–6 split at the November 10 council meeting. The motion could effectively ban all protests on Newcastle council land.

It was supported by NSW Labor Premier Chris Minns, who wrote a letter endorsing the motion.

Minns has consistently tried to shut down peaceful protests for climate, Palestine and other issues. 

We also note that NSW Police are taking Rising Tide to the Supreme Court to try and shut down the November 14 paddle out for the planet. 

With the climate hurtling towards disaster and NSW Labor continuing to approve new coal and gas projects, we will fight these anti-protest restrictions and continue demanding action for a safe climate.

SSFC will be at the Paddle for the Planet this Saturday, and the People’s Blockade of the World’s Largest Coal Port in February, and we encourage all to join us.

Socialist Alliance stands with Rising Tide and all groups protesting against the expansion of coal and gas, and for funding a just transition for fossil fuel workers in Muloobinba/Newcastle.

The City of Newcastle’s decision on November 10 to ban Rising Tide, and other groups, from protesting on “community-owned land” is draconian and dangerous.

The motion — adopted by a the independent Mayor’s casting vote — represents yet another attack on citizen’s democratic right to protest in NSW. Three Labor councillors did not support the Mayoral minute, only given half an hour before the meeting, but one did.

While the motion singled out Rising Tide, it said “affiliate groups” were also banned from protesting on council land. When pressed, Mayor Gavin Morris confirmed he also wanted to stop protests that support Palestine.

NSW Labor Premier Chris Minns’ record on trying to stop peaceful protests — on Palestine and for a safe climate — shows just how dangerous he is.

For three years Minns has tried to stop citizens from protesting the genocide in Gaza. He has been spectacularly unsuccessful because he has been challenged, and the courts, including the Supreme Court, have ruled against his efforts to stop people from mobilising together to express their view — the Sydney Harbour Bridge march for humanity being the most prominent example.

Minns is a big fan of coal, and he is now trying to introduce a new law to circumvent a High Court decision stating that NSW planning must take all emissions into account.

Minns has wanted to stop Rising Tide’s peaceful protests for a safe climate at the Newcastle Harbour. For several years he has been pushed back.

Newcastle City Council’s decision to prevent Rising Tide from using foreshore land now and into the future will not deter climate activists.

The NSW Police has lodged an objection in the Supreme Court to also disallow the Rising Tide protest on November 14.

But climate activists will continue to protest NSW Labor’s addiction to fossil fuels, which includes expanding coal mines in the Hunter Valley in a climate crisis.

As COP31 begins in Turkey, Rising Tide is seeking to draw attention to Australia’s complicity in fueling dangerous climate change. Minns is also complicit.

Socialist Alliance has long supported Rising Tide and will be joining the family-friendly flotilla protest at the world’s largest coal port on November 14 at 10am.

City of Sydney for Palestine stands with Rising Tide. Rising Tide has supported and facilitated our actions, and many of our members have volunteered with and participated in actions facilitated by Rising Tide. We know firsthand the power of coming together across movements.

Newcastle Council’s decision to prevent Rising Tide from using council-owned community land for protest events is an attack on the right to protest. We call on the council to reverse it.

From climate justice to Palestinian liberation, our movements depend on the freedom to organise, speak out and take collective action.

Stand with Rising Tide. Defend the right to protest.

The Greens have condemned Newcastle City Council's extraordinary decision to prohibit Rising Tide from using community-owned land for future climate protests, as NSW Police take the peaceful climate movement to the Supreme Court and the Minns Labor Government moves to pass special legislation protecting the expansion of the Mount Pleasant coal mine.

Greens MP and spokesperson for the environment and climate change Sue Higginson said the coordinated political and legal pressure against climate protesters was an alarming escalation in Labor's efforts to protect the coal industry from public scrutiny and opposition.  

Greens Leader Senator David Shoebridge said:  

“Labor is taking its orders directly from the coal industry, again. 

“This decision shows the extent of fossil fuel capture of the Labor party all the way from Local Councils to Federal Parliament.

“These protests were working and that is exactly why the fossil fuel industry got their people in the Liberal and Labor parties to try and ban them. 

“While Anthony Albanese is in Türkiye at COP31 talking big on Australia's climate ambitions at home they are blocking protest, approving coal and gas projects and taking the fossil fuel industry’s cash."  

“Labor wants applause at COP for its climate leadership while it keeps approving new coal and gas, including a decades‑long extension of the North West Shelf, and that double game is exactly why thousands of people keep turning up in Newcastle every year.

“Labor listens to the money and works alongside the polluters, the Greens listen to the people and work alongside them in our fight for a safe future, because that’s what’s at stake here.”  

NSW Greens MP, solicitor, and spokesperson for Climate Change Sue Higginson said:  

“NSW Labor has completely lost its way. While the climate crisis accelerates and Australia is leading global climate negotiations at COP31, the Minns Government is rewriting climate laws for coal corporations in violation of the High Court, taking peaceful protesters to court (again) and supporting a Newcastle Council decision to exclude climate campaigners from public land.  

“The people of Newcastle and NSW have every right to peacefully protest the ongoing expansion of coal mining and exports through their city. That right belongs to the community, and it cannot be extinguished because Minns and a select few Labor politicians find the message inconvenient.  

“Newcastle is home to the world's largest coal export port, and the people who live there are on the front line of the climate crisis. Rising Tide has brought thousands of people together to demand action on coal, and Labor's response is to try to shut them down.  

“Three Labor Newcastle councillors stood with the Greens to defend the right to protest, but their colleague, Premier Chris Minns’ minion, with the deciding vote chose to impose an extraordinary and indefinite exclusion on Rising Tide. This is a disgraceful decision that will stand as a historic mistake.   

“At the same time, NSW Police are in the Supreme Court trying to prohibit a peaceful flotilla protest from going ahead in the latest attack on legitimate and peaceful democratic activity. Rising Tide has made clear that Saturday's event is intended to be a peaceful, fun gathering to highlight COP31, and the police should be facilitating that democratic expression rather than fighting it in court.  

“The Minns Government’s rushing of special legislation through Parliament to protect the billion-dollar Mount Pleasant coal operation from the consequences of a landmark climate law decision is about as egregious as it gets. Labor is prepared to change the law for coal corporations while making it harder and harder for ordinary people to exercise their democratic rights.  

“These decisions expose just how deeply the coal industry has embedded itself in the political priorities of NSW Labor. Coal corporations have extraordinary access to government, while the communities demanding a safe climate are met with police, courts and political exclusion.  

“The Greens stand with Rising Tide and everyone exercising their right to peaceful protest. Newcastle Council should reverse this decision, NSW Police should safely facilitate Saturday's assembly, and the Minns Government must abandon its special protection for the Mount Pleasant coal mine. Anything less is a deep betrayal of our community and climate. 

The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) condemns Newcastle Council’s decision to ban Rising Tide and associated or affiliated groups, including Palestinian solidarity groups, from holding protests and events on council land.

Peaceful protest is not a privilege granted by politicians or local councils. It is a fundamental democratic right.

We call on Newcastle Council to immediately reverse this decision and on the NSW Government to uphold the right to peaceful assembly, rather than support measures that restrict it.

APAN stands in solidarity with Rising Tide and all communities whose fundamental democratic freedoms are threatened by this decision.

Hiba Farra, APAN Vice President said: “The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to democracy.

“Public spaces belong to the community, not just those whose views are acceptable to governments. First they try to silence Palestinians speaking out against genocide. Now they’re shutting down climate protesters.

“This is not about public safety. It is about silencing dissent and deciding whose voices are allowed to be heard.

“This sweeping restriction sets a dangerous precedent for the right to peaceful protest in NSW, extending beyond climate activism to threaten the ability of Palestinians and their supporters to organise, assemble and demand justice.

At a time when Palestinians are facing genocide, occupation and forced displacement, attempts to silence those speaking out against Israel's actions are particularly alarming.

“Silencing Palestinian voices will not shut down the demand for justice and accountability.”

Students Stand AGAINST Sexual Violence (SSASV) is deeply disturbed by the actions of those in power this week and their attempts to silence activists. 

We have seen a disgusting attack on protest rights in NSW yet again this week. On Tuesday night, we saw an egregious attempt to shut down Rising Tide’s “Paddle for the Planet”, a one-day, family-friendly flotilla at the world’s largest coal port to demand new jobs and funding for coal workers and a safe, liveable climate for everyone. 

In an attempt to censor this action, Newcastle City Council’s Lord Mayor presented and passed a repressive motion prepared in secret collaboration with NSW Premier Minns and Police Minister Catley, which stated “that Council: Does not license or authorise, now and into the future, community-owned land for the purpose of Rising Tide’s events/protests (including, but not limited to, The People’s Blockade) and including its associates, subsidiaries, affiliated IMGs [issue motivated groups] and individuals.”

SSASV is UTTERLY DISGUSTED by this unprecedented attack on the right to protest.

Newcastle City Council has now banned approval of ANY EVENT OR PROTEST organised by Rising Tide or any associated groups on council-owned land “now and into the future”, leaving it unclear as to who can organise events on PUBLIC LAND in Newcastle.

Rising Tide has stated: “This is an attack on democratic participation, and follows in the footsteps of governments across the country restricting the right to protest,” which SSASV wholeheartedly agrees with.

The right to protest is absolutely crucial to the public's ability to be heard and participate in a democratic society.

SSASV stands in solidarity with the Rising Tide team and encourages you to sign and share their petition calling on the Lord Mayor and Newcastle City Council to unwind the ban on Rising Tide and affiliated groups.

We reject Newcastle Council’s authoritarian attempt to protect coal. 

Last night, Newcastle Council passed a motion permanently banning Rising Tide, and any group or person associated with them, from using public land. 

Many Trans Justice Project members, for example, would likely be banned from using public land. 

This motion was prepared with support from NSW Premier Chris Minns and police minister Yasmin Catley. 

Our government is attempting to crush democracy and control public life to defend the coal industry — which contributes to global warming that will kill billions. 

We urge you to sign the petition demanding Newcastle Council drops this law, and to attend the upcoming Paddle for the Planet in Newcastle on November 14.