More than 100 climate change protesters charged after blockade at Port of Newcastle

Police watch on as protesters demonstrate against fossil fuels at Newcastle’s port.  (ABC News: Romy Stephens )

More than 100 people have been charged during a blockade of Newcastle Harbour.

They were part of a three-day gathering organised by Rising Tide to bring attention to global warming.

Protesters had already blockaded the harbour on canoes and other small craft for 30 hours but continued beyond 4pm when their authorisation to gather expired.

Some 109 people were arrested and taken to three police stations across Newcastle, 89 of them were taken to a nearby port facility.

Physics student Isaac Leonard and 65-year-old Canberra man John Wurker were refused bail and will face Newcastle Local Court this morning, while the remainder will appear in January.

Five juveniles were arrested but dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.

Rising Tide activist Zack Schofield was among those arrested and said protesters will be back unless the state and federal governments start toughening up on the fossil fuel industries.

“That’s the choice we’re giving government, either do your job and take on the industries causing the climate crisis or people will continue to place themselves in situations like this,” he said.

“We’re going to do it again and we’re not going anywhere.”

Premier Chris Minns said he would prefer people didn’t protest at the coal port, but said it was a difficult event to prevent.

“These organisers have been conducting this blockade since 2016, this wasn’t the first time it was conducted in Newcastle,” he told 2GB radio.

“That’s very difficult for New South Wales Police, or even the minister for police, to front up last week and say we’re banning it.”

“I don’t support it, I’d rather it didn’t happen, we sold $40 billion worth of coal last year and we need it if we’re going to transition our economy to renewable energies.”