A PROTESTER blocked all five tracks of a rail line into Port of Melbourne on Friday morning while another protester climbed inside a stacker reclaimer at the Port of Newcastle.
Both protesters were representing Blockade Australia, the climate activism group which has disrupted operations or landside access at the ports of Brisbane, Newcastle and Melbourne every day this week.
At the Port of Melbourne on Friday morning, a 19-year-old activist named Aiko was up a nine-metre monopole blocking the tracks to the port.
An industry source has confirmed to DCN that the demonstration blocked access to the Swanson precinct, with three container freight trains impacted.
According to Blockade Australia’s Facebook page, a second protester attempted to disrupt operations at the Port of Newcastle by climbing a stacker reclaimer and trying to shut it down.
NSW Police in a statement on Friday afternoon a woman had been charged following an unauthorised protest in Newcastle.
“About 6am today (Friday 23 June 2023), emergency services were called to Egret Street, Kooragang, following reports a person had climbed on top of a reclaimer at Port Waratah,” NSW Police said.
“Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District with assistance from Police Rescue, removed a 67-year-old woman.
“She was arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station, where she was charged with enter enclosed non-agricultural lands serious safety risk, enter/remain on major facility seriously disrupt use and breach of bail.”
The woman was refused bail to attend Newcastle Local Court later on Friday 23 June 2023.
