Several people have been arrested at a climate protest in the Port of Newcastle. A total of 170 people have been arrested this weekend by New South Wales Police during a protest by a climate group in Australia.

NSW Police said in its statement on Sunday November 24 that just after 10am on Sunday a large group of people entered a shipping channel and interfered with the movement of vessels.

Of those arrested, police said 156 were adults and 14 were youths.

According to NSW police, 34 people were required to be retrieved from the water during arrests, ten people required assistance from police to return to shore, and one police officer suffered a fractured ankle.

Unrelated to activities in the water, there were numerous traffic infringements issued, the NSW police noted in its statement, and a further five charges were laid.

According to updated information, the harbour remains open and continues to operate with 31 shipping movements over the weekend since Friday November 22.

“Just after 10am today (Sunday 24 November 2024), a large group of people entered the shipping channel and presented serious safety risks to themselves and others, causing significant disruptions to the operation of the harbour,” the police added.

As it is reported, the police operation on the harbour is ongoing.

“The NSW Police Force will adopt a zero-tolerance approach to actions which threaten public safety and the safe passage of vessels,” the statement reads.

The climate group claims that Australia is one of the world’s largest exporters of coal and gas. The emissions from these exports dwarf its domestic climate pollution.

For the full release by the NSW police pls see here.