NSW Premier Chirs Minns has slammed climate activists' plans to blockade Newcastle Harbour in November after a major cruise ship operator announced it was cancelling a visit to the city to avoid the upcoming protest.
Port of Newcastle confirmed on Tuesday that it had been advised the cruise ship Silver Nova had scrapped plans to arrive in the port at 8am on November 24 and depart at 6pm.
The reason given was a planned 10-day protest on and around the harbour organised by environmental activist group Rising Tide.
The decision will have major economic knock-on effects including the cancellation of day trips to the region and the loss of spending opportunities in the city.
Rising Tide, which is seeking to stop coal exports from the port by 2030, has applied to NSW Police to protest between November 19 to 28.
NSW Premier Chris Minns told the Newcastle Herald he did not support the protesters' plans.
"I've made my views clear on this - I don't support this action, I'd rather it didn't happen," he said.
"My understanding is there is a form 1 (Notice of intention to hold a public assembly) that has been lodged and police are currently reviewing it."
Last year an estimated 1500 protesters took to Newcastle Harbour in kayaks and rafts to prevent ships from entering the world's largest coal port for more than 30 hours.
Organisers claimed the event stopped as many as eight ships carrying up to half a million tonnes of coal leaving the port.
More than 100 people who were arrested after they refused to leave the water when the protest permit expired.
The cancellation of the Silver Nova's visit is the first time that anti-coal protests have directly impacted on the non-coal sector of the Hunter's community.
Port of Newcastle chief executive Craig Carmody described the blockade, which will result in the ship's 728 passengers and 556 crew crew bypassing the Newcastle and Hunter, as an act of economic vandalism.
"As a port that facilitates trade for over 25 different cargoes, these economic vandals continue to impact Hunter families and communities across NSW,"he said.
"In discussions with farmers, who are reporting a bumper harvest this year, Port of Newcastle is preparing for a possible record season for grain exports, however, with an extended protest being planned, we cannot guarantee these expected volumes.
"As was seen with the criminals who blocked the train lines earlier this year, the intent to only block the trade of one commodity is fanciful, these groups have no regard whatsoever for the lives and industries they impact beyond their single-minded purpose."
The ship's owner Silversea did not comment.
A Rising Tide spokesman said non-coal vessels would be granted passage to the port throughout the duration of the People's Blockade.
"We agree with Craig Carmody's recent comments, published in the Newcastle Herald, that the coal export industry could collapse within the next decade. This is supported by the International Energy Agency, which recently predicted that global coal demand will "reach a turning point and start declining soon".
"At the People's Blockade, Rising Tide will be strongly advocating for a 75 per cent export profits tax on the currently lucrative coal industry, which in 2023 accounted for 94 per cnet of total trade through the Port of Newcastle. Proceeds from the tax would help prepare the Hunter for declining coal exports by funding investment in new industries, and training and support for affected workers."
"As per last year, we continue our guarantee to all non-coal vessels that they will have unobstructed passage during the People's Blockade of coal ships this November. We warmly invite the operators of the Silver Nova to reach out to us to arrange passage during this time and look forward to showing them and their passengers into our city."
Newcastle State MP Tim Crakanthorp said, while he supported the right to protest, it was unfortunate that the blockade would impact an organisation trying hard to diversify away from coal.
"More cruise ships stopping in our port will inevitably increase social, cultural and economic benefits for Newcatle and the wider Hunter community," he said.
Former Tourism Hunter chairman Will Creedon, who has advocated for more cruise ships to visit Newcastle, described the blockade as a "disgrace".
"There are other ways to create effective change on climate issues," he said.
"What they are actually doing is hurting an industry and the wider visitor economy that is already under severe stress from economic conditions and inflationary conditions, they are just adding to it."
He predicted that the Silver Nova could be the first of many cruise ships to avoid Newcastle.
"For the next number of years those cruise companies will be questioning should we come to Newcastle because of the activist regime," Mr Creedon said.
"It's not fair on the people who live here and derive a living selling food and clothes to visitors. It's an absolute disgrace."
