Being involved in "The People Blockade" in Muloobinba was inspiring and life-changing. Thousands of people from the town, the country and the world gathered over a weekend in November to take action for an end to fossil fuels for a chance at a liveable climate. How did they do this? Using people power to block the world's largest coal port.
"PEOPLE!" - "People!" - "POWER!" - "Power!"
So went the loud and powerful chant across thousands of people, gathered on Awabakal and Worimi Country, known as Muloobinba (Newcastle, NSW). Now in it's 12th year, the annual "The People's Blockade" organised by Rising Tide held in November 2024 was well and truly it's largest. Full of colourful banners, posters and displays, it was clear that those who had travelled here were energetic and buzzing with taking impactful climate action.
So why Newcastle? It is the site of the world's largest coal port, shipping an average of 165Mt of coal each year, mostly to China and Japan. (Ironically, the coal port itself is transitioning to run completely on renewable energy by 2040). The Hunter Valley region has a long history of coal mining, steel production and convict worker struggles. All that is left today is the coal works and the port that ships it out.
Locals calling for a just transition
On one of the first nights, we heard from Hunter Jobs Alliance coordinator, Justin Page and CFMEU worker Zach, who spoke about the work to transition the area away from coal and provide their workers with decent, well-paid and secure jobs. Justin explained that the coal exports paid little, if any taxes or royalties - and the tax they did pay, only 2% came back to Newcastle. It was clear that we as a nation were not only continuing to put our communities and nature at risk by mining climate-changing fossil fuels, but letting fossil fuel companies basically keep the entire mega-profits! Profits from resources we were basically giving away for free.
There are strong examples of how taxing fossil fuel companies the right tax were better for the economy, with Norway having a 78% tax and still having fossil fuel companies doing business in their nation.
Taxing coal companies properly at 78% would cover the costs we needed to transition our coal workers and communities to a cleaner and more sustainable future. Not only are fossil fuel companies keeping an eye-watering amount of profit and paying little back, but the extraction and burning of the fossil fuels are firebombing our chances of keeping within a safe and liveable climate.
The People's Blockade
When it comes to any issue though which threatens our communities, nature and environment, you can guarantee that there will be resistance - loud, powerful and strong resistance. From First Nations people, Oldies Rising and Knitting Nannas, to children, families, LGBTQIA+ folk, musicians and students - hardly anyone was not represented in this crowd.
A smaller group at first went out to the water on Thursday, believing it would be the only time to do so legally as the police had not approved the water protest. But a few hours later, as kayaks were still on the water, news came that we had won the Supreme Court challenge!! Allowing us to continue the action as planned - given some extra police measures. It was a moment of cheer and joy as people power won again for the justice.
Celebrations continued over the days with musical mights like Wangan and Jagalingou man Gurridyula, Midnight Oil stars Peter Garrett and Martin Rotsey, and John Butler. Over 170 people chose to defy the police's orders and paddle outside barriers and across the port, taking action and occupying the waters long enough to turn a coal ship around. Around the action, music, singing and even a climate dog parade continued.
It was powerful and strengthening knowing that people all over the world want real action to get off fossil fuels and take action for a safe climate!
Hunter Valley - the "other" coal region
Central Queensland and the Hunter Valley are linked in that they are the nation's largest coal-mining regions. We couldn't miss out on this opportunity to connect with fellows also working hard to have a solid plan away from fossil fuels. Justin and Jo from Hunter Jobs Alliance (HJA) were generous with their time and we met and spoke with them about the start up of the group - an alliance between the climate action work of environment groups and secure, well-paid jobs called for by unions. HJA's sole purpose is to act as an in-between agent - calling for a just transition for coal workers in the Hunter region.
Their work has been hugely successful, with a recent win to secure millions of dollars of funding for a local TAFE Centre to offer transitional courses and winning respect of commerce and union groups alike.
Heading inland, we headed through the country to Mudgee. Huge open-pit coal mines were right along the road and often opposite cattle grazing in paddocks. The vast land cleared and dug out for coal mines is always hard to comprehend. The escaping gases, threats to waterways and our beautiful bushland and seeing hills chewed away.
We connected with a member of the local Mudgee Environment Group on her beautiful bushland property, where she runs a bush cottage stay. Out came the maps and the story that just that morning, her and her husband had met with a coal company who had plans to expand their coal mine right under their property. This expansion would reach as close as 1km from a precious water site, The Drip, important to First Nations people, locals and visitors alike. With an underground mine allowed to expand so close, the water supply to this beautiful area was under threat, as well as earth moving and damaging roads providing access to her property and data cables.
There is no need for coal to risk to culture, this important water area, roads, property, bushland and the climate.
The time for coal is up and we need courage and the right plans to leave it in the ground and move forward with renewable energy and clean jobs for the benefit of all!
Take action!
- ✉️ Donate to our case against Whitehaven Coal's plans to build a massive coal mine in QLD
- 🖋️ Volunteer and get involved with our climate work!
- 🖤 Support Wangan and Jagalingou Custodians standing their ground against Adani/Bravus
What else can you do?
- 🌊 Sign up to Rising Tide's emails and spread the work about this amazing movement
- 🐨 Follow and support the Mudgee Environment Centre - calling for coal mining to end in the Hunter Valley
- ⚙️ Share and support the work of Hunter Jobs Alliance - working to create clean, secure, well paying jobs for their community
The tide is turning against fossil fuels and we are rising up for a safe climate and just future!
