More than 100 climate activists in New South Wales are challenging anti-protest laws by pleading not guilty to obstruction and unlawful assembly charges. Following a blockade of the world's largest coal port in 2022, where 173 people were arrested, 130 activists will defend their actions in court. Protestors criticize the government's ongoing approval of coal and gas projects amid escalating climate damage, highlighting a disconnect between political action and public protest against the climate crisis.
The anti-protest laws are over the top and they need to be challenged, said 21-year-old Alexa Stuart, who is a spokesperson for the protest organisers Rising Tide.
Stuart said those arrested last year were angry at the government's lack of response to the climate crisis.
Despite severe climate impacts, the government continues to approve new coal and gas projects, exacerbating the climate crisis.
A separate attempt by the state government to enact an exclusion zone around the port in November was deemed invalid by the court as an improper use of the Marine Safety Act.
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