Climate action protesters who caused mayhem on the Hunter's rail network yesterday have been slammed for putting "themselves, rail workers and train drivers at risk".
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Police were called to three separate protest stunts within 12 hours, including one incident where two women scaled a coal train at Sandgate and performed a song a dance.
Blockade Australia, which has been known to conduct similar stunts in the region, took responsibility for all three protests on Tuesday, June 25, that began around 7am when police were called to Kooragang rail bridge where a man had suspended himself over the Hunter River.
In the most recent action, a woman in her 60s identifying herself as Joanne from Adelaide Hills was seen standing on top of a train carriage carrying a tattered umbrella, saying "we're on a railroad to hell".
She was arrested and taken to Singleton police station where she was charged with enter inclosed lands serious safety risk, cause obstruction to railway locomotive and enter inclosed land without lawful excuse. She was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday.
Earlier, the action began when police used an excavator to reach the first of the protestors and cut him down. He was among three men arrested at the scene and taken to Newcastle police station.
Emergency services were called again just after 1pm about the two women aboard the coal train live-streaming their rendition of The Supremes' hit 'Stop! In The Name Of Love' to 'Stop in the name of life'.
Blockade Australia has released a statement saying the protestors, two women believed to be called Cat and Rosie, "have brought the world's biggest coal port to a halt for the second time today by sitting on top of a coal carriage".
"We must stop this train of destruction for the sake of all life on this planet."
The women were removed from the train, arrested and taken to Newcastle police station where they were each charged with enter inclosed lands and create serious safety risk.
Both women were refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court.
From the first incident a 20-year-old man and a 27-year-old man were 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 Sydney Harbour Bridge, police said. The 20-year-old was refused bail and will face Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday, while the 27-year-old was granted bail and will face court on July 4.
A 67-year-old man, who was suspended over the Hunter River, 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 Wednesday.
A spokesperson from The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) said they were "very concerned by the activities of protestors on its rail network in Newcastle" and said that the incidents were "placing lives at risk".
"Protesters trespassing in a live rail corridor is dangerous, can be fatal and puts themselves, our rail workers and train drivers at risk of serious harm.
"ARTC takes its duty of care very seriously to ensure the safety of everyone in the rail corridor."
The corporation is working in conjunction with the Port of Newcastle and has increased security patrols and surveillance to prevent future trespassing incidents.
"We will continue to work with emergency services, industry, and customers to ensure rail operations are safe. Further, we are working with our customers to clear any backlogs due to the service disruptions that occurred due to the protest activity."
No passenger services were impacted by the protest activity.
Jessica Brown
Jessica began her journalism career in 2009 as a cadet at The Port Stephens Examiner before moving to London for a two-year stint working in magazines and digital publishing. The Lake Macquarie local returned to Australia where she took up a reporting role at The Maitland Mercury. She worked across several rounds including local council, police and property before moving into digital journalism and joining the team at The Newcastle Herald in 2017.
Jessica began her journalism career in 2009 as a cadet at The Port Stephens Examiner before moving to London for a two-year stint working in magazines and digital publishing. The Lake Macquarie local returned to Australia where she took up a reporting role at The Maitland Mercury. She worked across several rounds including local council, police and property before moving into digital journalism and joining the team at The Newcastle Herald in 2017.
Simon McCarthy
Simon McCarthy is a journalist working at the Newcastle Herald in NSW. He writes news and features, and produces video and multimedia, for the Herald and Herald Weekender magazine. He contributes regularly to the Newcastle Herald’s daily Topics column, and is the co-creator and producer of the Toohey’s News podcast. McCarthy has worked as a journalist in regional NSW since 2013. He joined the newsroom of the Newcastle Herald in 2017 from the Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he worked from 2015 to 2016.
Simon McCarthy is a journalist working at the Newcastle Herald in NSW. He writes news and features, and produces video and multimedia, for the Herald and Herald Weekender magazine. He contributes regularly to the Newcastle Herald’s daily Topics column, and is the co-creator and producer of the Toohey’s News podcast. McCarthy has worked as a journalist in regional NSW since 2013. He joined the newsroom of the Newcastle Herald in 2017 from the Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he worked from 2015 to 2016.
