Environment & Climate
Newcastle council bans Rising Tide from council land and event licensing
According to The Guardian, the council acted after NSW Premier Chris Minns warned it would be complicit in illegal activity at protests.
The short version
- Newcastle council banned Rising Tide from holding events on its land after consulting NSW Premier Chris Minns.[The Guardian]
- Lord Mayor Gavin Morris used his casting vote to block event licensing, claiming the group defied police in past protests.[The Guardian]
- Past blockades led to 173 charges in 2024, with 125 later withdrawn, and 129 charges in 2025 that remain before the courts.[The Guardian]
- Rising Tide spokesperson Zack Schofield said the ban shows the group is building pressure on the port.[The Guardian]
Key facts
- Newcastle council banned Rising Tide from holding events on its land after consulting NSW Premier Chris Minns.[The Guardian]
- Lord Mayor Gavin Morris used his casting vote to ban licensing of Rising Tide's events.[The Guardian]
- During the 2024 protest, 173 people were charged, and police withdrew charges against 125 of them in August.[The Guardian]
- Police arrested and charged 129 protesters who entered the water at the 2025 event.[The Guardian]
- Rising Tide spokesperson Zack Schofield said attempts to suppress protest show the group has been effective in building pressure on the port.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- The reporting does not say how the ban will be enforced or whether planned protests will go ahead.[The Guardian]
- Charges from the 2025 blockade remain before the courts, so their outcome is unknown.[The Guardian]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.