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Newcastle Herald

Jessica Brown

Trio charged after climate protest above Hunter River

Newcastle Blockade Australia Police

Blockade Australia protester Ian Fox attempted to stop coal trains in and out of the Port of Newcastle on Tuesday morning sparking a major response from emergency services before his arrest. Picture by Peter Lorimer

Blockade Australia protester Ian Fox attempts to stop coal trains in and out of the Port of Newcastle on Tuesday morning sparking a major response from emergency services before his arrest. Picture by Peter Lorimer

Blockade Australia protester Ian Fox sparked a major response from emergency services before his arrest. Picture by Peter Lorimer

THREE men have been charged over a protest this morning, where a climate activist climbed Kooragang rail bridge and suspended himself over the Hunter river in an effort to block train movements into the Port of Newcastle.

The incident looked more like a rescue mission than an arrest, as police teams brought in an excavator and an officer in a harness used a series of cables to reach the protestor and cut him down.

Police sent several units to the scene after reports of the Blockade Australia protest on the rail tracks came in at 7am on Tuesday June 25. The Newcastle Herald can report there were more than 30 people, including specialist rescue officers, and two police vans sent to the scene.

Police have confirmed they are aware of the incident. Picture by Blockade Australia

Just after 9am police moved the excavator onto the bridge. As police prepared to be lowered out to the man dangling over the river, he dropped his lunchbox of food supplies into the water.

Police then reached the man, attaching him to one officer while cutting his suspension line. Attempts were made to return the protestor to the bridge, but in the end police lowered him down onto a boat.

The 67-year-old man was then arrested. Two other men, aged 20 and 27, were also arrested at the scene. They were taken to Newcastle police station.

Activists from Blockade Australia have climbed atop the Kooragang Rail Bridge. Pictures by Blockade Australia

All three men have been charged, police said in a statement on Tuesday afternooon.

According to a media release from Blockade Australia, the older activist was Ian Fox from Adelaide.

The 67-year-old man held a banner which read "Survival depends on non-compliance. Act your politics".

The 20-year-old and the 27-year-old were both charged with enter enclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, and enter inclosed non-agricultural lands, serious safety risk.

Following the younger man's arrest, a warrant was also executed over an alleged earlier incident for enter Sudney Harbour Bridge, police said. The 20-year-old was refused bail and will face Newcastle Local Court tomorrow, while the 27-year-old was granted bail and will face court on July 4.

The 67-year-old man was charged with enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, enter inclosed non-agricultural lands serious safety risk, and cause obstruction to railway locomotive or rolling stock.

He was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court tomorrow.

Blockade Australia protesters aim to disrupt activities to force change on Australia's climate policies and have targeted the Port of Newcastle several times. The group first appeared on the scene in 2021 by blocking coal trains and halting operations in Newcastle.

"The Australian system is failing spectacularly at providing for people's needs and guaranteeing a safe future," a spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The elites at the helm will not change course without confrontation. Direct action like this at key trading infrastructure is how we make a different future possible."

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