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Jack Gramenz

Activist on bail after port railway blockade protest

An activist accused of suspending herself above a railway to Newcastle's coal port has been bailed. (Paul Miller/AAP PHOTOS)

A protester who allegedly suspended themselves over a railway as part of demonstrations around Australia has been granted bail following their arrest.

Claudia Ellen Hannigan, 22, was one of three people charged over Monday's actions by the Blockade Australia group, coming on the anniversary of a police raid on a rural property northwest of Sydney allegedly being used by climate action activists to plan protests in 2022.

She allegedly suspended herself above a rail bridge at NSW's Port of Newcastle, a major coal terminal, and was charged with causing an obstruction to a railway locomotive and entering enclosed lands posing a serious safety risk.

Hannigan has been ordered to live in Sydney's inner west and not travel north of Gosford unless attending court as part of bail conditions securing her release in the Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday.

Her arrest coincided with two other protesters being charged for similar demonstrations in Brisbane and Melbourne.

Multiple Australian states have introduced legislation targeting the disruptive demonstrations of environmental protesters since NSW added new offences and heavier penalties in March 2022. 

Queensland earlier targeted "locking devices" used by environmental protesters in 2019.  

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