Full Blockade ahead: Sweeping Marine Exclusion Zone deemed invalid in Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court has ruled that a Marine Exclusion Zone made under the Marine Safety Act at Newcastle Port from 5 pm this afternoon is invalid. Justice McNaughton found the notice invalid because exclusion zones were not empowered to prevent special events. The ruling is a welcome relief for the organisers of Rising Tide who have been under sustained attack from the NSW Government for their “People’s Blockade of the World’s Largest Coal Port”.
Greens spokesperson for environment and justice and public interest lawyer Sue Higginson. The bravery of this young person who placed their future on the line and stood up for what was right, against the full might of the NSW Government cannot be understated,”
“The Rising Tide took on the Government of NSW not just for themselves, but for the fundamental right to protest and engage in peaceful political communication that has come under vicious attack from the Premier of this State,”
“Today the Court has ruled that the Government has gone above the rule of the law. NSW Labor and Premier Minns have been engaged in politics of suppression against people taking a stand on climate change and the Minister for Transport, Jo Haylen jumped on board. It is appalling that the Premier would undermine a peaceful demonstration rather than engage with Rising Tide to facilitate the safest possible version of this event,”
“The organisers of this event have engaged in good faith despite the coordinated attacks they have endured these last few weeks. They should be commended for their maturity, strength and determination. It is no small thing for a grassroots organisation to be pursued this relentlessly by their own Government for the crime of coming together to demand better,”
“While in the Supreme Court, 21-year-old Alexa Stuart bravely stood up to fight to protect the right to protest, just across the road in Parliament NSW Labor are just hours away from ramming through more anti-protest legislation to further erode our rights and criminalise anyone who dares speak out. Today NSW Labor’s real agenda is on stark display and it should concern every single one of us,” Ms Higginson said.