Police have taken an activist group to court over an upcoming demonstration, which protesters say marks a scary day for people taking a stand on any issue.
Climate activist group Rising Tide had planned to hold an inaugural Paddle for the Planet event on Saturday on the water at Newcastle Harbour, but NSW Police stepped in at the last minute.
Police challenged the demonstration in the NSW Supreme Court, arguing the demonstration presents serious safety issues.
But Paddle for the Planet organiser Anne Hodgson dismissed the accusation when speaking ahead of Wednesday's hearing.
“The real safety issue here is not what Rising Tide are planning, it is the lack of decisive action on climate (by) the Labor government,” she said.
Hundreds are expected to attend the family-friendly event which boasts live music and a barbecue and proposes a two-hour flotilla in Newcastle Harbour.
Rising Tide organiser Zack Schofield said the group has had almost no safety incidents over their years of large-scale blockades.
The legal action taken by police to oppose the event is terrifying and devastating, according to prominent media figure Hannah Ferguson.
"(It)is a really scary day for anyone living in any part of Australia looking to protest on any given issue,” the aspiring federal politician said.
"It is not a privilege to gather ... it is our right to freedom of political communication and to gather in public as a community, and send a clear message to the industry."
Justice Edward Muston will rule on whether the protest can proceed.
Police Minister Yasmin Catley opposed the demonstration and lashed Rising Tide for their annual blockades of the Port of Newcastle.
“Rising Tide are bad faith actors,” she said at a press conference.
"Our port is not to be used as a political play thing."
The legal fight comes less than 24 hours after the Newcastle council voted to bar Rising Tide from holding any future protests on council land, citing public safety concerns.
The council in 2025 granted permission for Rising Tide’s annual multi-day blockade of the port to proceed, but that was dramatically rescinded during a council meeting on Tuesday evening.
The 2025 “protestival” resulted in more than 150 arrests after participants boarded coal ships and locked themselves on to coal loaders and conveyor belts.
Hundreds of charges laid against protesters as a result the 2024 event were dropped by police earlier in 2026.
Newcastle is the world's largest coal export port, sending 150 million tonnes offshore annually, mostly to east Asia.
