Newcastle, Australia - December 01, 2025 Coal operations at the world’s largest coal port were brought to a halt on Monday, December 1, when sixteen people locked onto machinery as part of the final day of the People’s Blockade of the World’s Biggest Coal Port. Eight activists attached themselves to two coal loaders, while another eight locked onto conveyor belts. Police were on site and began making arrests as the shutdown continued. The action followed a weekend flotilla blockade in which thousands participated, forcing three coal ships to turn around and disrupting the export of hundreds of thousands of tonnes of coal. Protesters are urging the federal government to stop approving new coal mines and to impose a 78% tax on coal export profits to fund new industries and retraining for workers as the world transitions away from coal. Demonstrators unfurled a banner reading “Stop exporting climate chaos” and wrote “78% tax on fossil fuels” in chalk at the site. “I lost my home in the black summer bushfires in 2019 along with 150 others in my community near Taree,” said Fiona Lee, a mother, artist, and bushfire survivor who locked onto a coal loader. She said she could not stand by as new coal and gas projects worsen disasters and stressed the need for investment in new industries to support Hunter communities. Seventeen-year-old high school student Myles Wilkinson said, “Today I peacefully disrupted the world’s biggest coal port, because young people like me simply can not afford to ask nicely for climate action anymore. All of my friends are so anxious about the future because we’re inheriting a planet that’s been destroyed by coal and gas companies.” Rising Tide spokesperson Zack Schofield said protesters acted because “the government is failing to act on climate and failing to support workers with a well funded transition plan.” He said the government is protecting multinational coal corporations instead of assisting Hunter communities, again calling for a 78% tax on coal export profits.