cross-posted from: aussie.zone/post/38355181
Caught in the crossfire? Sweeping crackdown on Rising Tide raises questions
By Madeline Link
November 11 2026 - 1:43pmCity of Newcastle’s blanket ban on Rising Tide events has raised questions about whether the move in effect bans all protest on Newcastle council-owned land or opens the council up to legal challenges.
Fury erupted at Tuesday night’s meeting after Newcastle lord mayor Gavin Morris used his casting vote to push through a motion banning Rising Tide and its associates or affiliated groups from using community-owned land for events, now and into the future.
Rising Tide spokeswoman Alexa Stuart said the move was one of the “most extreme measures” to repress protest by a local council.
“Last night’s motion was outrageous, unprecedented and frankly a betrayal to the people of Newcastle,” Ms Stuart said.
"We have seen the true colours of the lord mayor, Gavin Morris, who this morning on radio confirmed that he was comfortable in banning any group associated with Rising Tide, explicitly including Free Palestine, from holding events or protests on council land.
“The scope of this anti-democratic measure is quite unhinged and deeply concerning.”
The Newcastle Herald has contacted groups including Free Palestine Newcastle, the Knitting Nannas and Food Not Bombs for comment.
Rising Tide spokesman Zack Schofield called the “desperate attempt” to “suppress protest” proof that Rising Tide had been effective in building pressure against the world’s largest coal port.
“Newcastle residents who understand the urgency of climate change should be appalled that their local government has decided to side with fossil fuel corporates, and they should join us,” Mr Schofield said.
“History is made by those who show up, and governments cannot arrest or suppress their way out of the climate crisis.”
Mr Schofield said Rising Tide did not need an event licence from City of Newcastle to gather and protest peacefully on public land.
He confirmed Paddle for the Planet will go ahead on Saturday at Horseshoe beach, as will future protests.
“Over movement to defend our future will continue to grow until there is an urgent phase out of coal mining and coal exports, including a fast, fair and funded transition to support coal workers and communities of the Hunter Region.”
On 1233 ABC Radio Newcastle on Wednesday morning, the lord mayor was asked whether a rally to free Palestine would be allowed on council-owned land under the ban.
“Um, well, no, yes, correct. So they have been a part of Rising Tide that we know of. Yes,” Cr Morris said.
“But you might have unwittingly or unintentionally banned a bunch of groups that might want to have a rally about something else entirely here?” interviewer Paul Culliver asked.
“I would feel comfortable with that,” Cr Morris said.
On Wednesday afternoon, Cr Morris told the Herald the ban was “purely towards Rising Tide”.
“We don’t want Rising Tide to organise another protest under another name of one of those associated groups,” Cr Morris said.
“So that is why that was put there, because there are now different arms and those groups are working together.”
Cr Morris clarified the ban was “not necessarily” aimed at a free Palestine rally, but was about Rising Tide using other group names “as a facade” to hold events.
“I think the applications as they come through can be judged on their merit,” Cr Morris said. As for potential future legal challenges, Cr Morris said he has done what he can, and anything beyond the lord mayoral minute is a legal matter.
Rising Tide plans to hold a Paddle for the Planet event on Saturday, which does not require council approval, and its People’s Blockade in February next year, which requires council approval to use council-owned land for camping.
On Tuesday night, Labor councillor Declan Clausen crossed the floor, voting in favour of the lord mayoral minute despite his Labor colleagues voting against it.
“I recognise the right of people to advocate for stronger climate action, but supporting that cause does not require council to facilitate every method of protest, particularly when it is then used to justify acts of non-compliance and significant safety,” Cr Clausen said at Tuesday’s meeting.
“I also acknowledge that I went to the Newcastle community at the 2026 lord mayoral by-election with a clear position on Rising Tide’s use of council land, as just a clear matter of principle, I believe that it’s important that I vote in a manner that is consistent with the commitments that I made to voters at that election.”
Cr Clausen did not participate in the council’s consideration of Rising Tide’s application last year because of a conflict of interest, but on Tuesday said those circumstances no longer applied.