Police in Newcastle have arrested two environmental activists who had tied themselves to machinery in the city’s coal port to protest against the coal industry’s impact on climate change.
More than 50 members of the group Rising Tide Newcastle broke into three coal terminals. Of the group, 36 sat on a huge pile of coal beneath infrastructure that is known as a stacker/reclaimer on Kooragang Island.
Another nine climbed on a coal loader, abseiled down the machine’s cables and hung 45 metres above the ground.
They held banners which say “coal exports fuel global warming”.
Police have made two arrests, cutting the pair from the port infrastructure they had tied themselves to.
Police are waiting for more officers to arrive before moving in on the protesters.
A spokeswoman for the group says none of the activists plan on resisting arrest.
