Climate protesters block coal shipments in three states as Minns warns against ‘dangerous’ situations
Blockade Australias coordinated action targets ports in Newcastle, Brisbane and Melbourne Climate protesters have disrupted coal shipments and motorway traffic at ports in Newcastle, Brisbane and Melbourne. A climate protester has suspended herself from a rail bridge at the Newcastle coal ports, blocking trains, as coordinated protests were mounted at ports in Melbourne and Brisbane. The woman was livestreaming her solitary protest online and police were on site. As she swung several hundred metres above the ground from the Kooragang rail bridge, she said the action was in response to Australias lack of action on climate change. In Brisbane, a Blockade Australia protester caused major disruption on the Port of Brisbane Motorway at Lytton on Monday morning, sitting atop a bamboo pole. Blockade Australia said in a statement the protests were part of a coordinated mobilisation in response to Australias facilitation of the climate and ecological crisis and its active blocking of impactful action towards a safe climate. Sign up for Guardian Australias free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup The NSW premier, Chris Minns, said while people have the right to demonstrate, protests in precarious sites put emergency service personnel at risk. Emergency service workers, particularly the police, are put in extreme danger as a result of having to go and remove people from dangerous situations, he said on 2GB radio. Its one of the reasons we supported the previous governments protest laws which are going to remain in place. Sign up to Afternoon Update Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you whats happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion The previous Coalition government introduced harsh penalties for protesters whose actions impact the flow of traffic and the abilities of emergency personnel to get to accidents and emergencies. Amendments to the Crimes Act passed by the NSW parliament last year impose jail terms of up to two years, and fines of $22,000, for protesters who cause damage or disruption to major roads or major public facilities. In a statement, Blockade Australia said direct action like blocking the port is needed to shake up the system to move on from business as usual.