00:00Thousands of protesters have gathered here in Newcastle calling for an end to the coal industry and more action on climate change.
00:10The organisers of the protest group Rising Tide are aiming to make this year's blockade the biggest climate protest in Australia's history,
00:18with more than 7,000 people expected to turn out.
00:21Already here on Newcastle Foreshore, hundreds of people have set up camp, with the local council approving the nearby park as a campsite.
00:29Last year, thousands of people attended the three-day protest, which saw hundreds take to the water in canoes and flotillas to block coal ships coming in and out of the port of Newcastle.
00:40More than 100 people were arrested and charged from that protest and are still before the court.
00:45This year, the state government has put an exclusion zone in place on the harbour. It will remain in place until early Monday morning.
00:53Police have put buoys in the water, asking boats and swimmers not to go beyond them.
00:58A Rising Tide spokesperson says they're calling on the government to tax the coal industry, stop approving new coal and gas projects and facilitate renewable jobs.
01:08This is what a Rising Tide spokesperson had to say about an exclusion zone located 100 metres offshore.
01:15We think that the exclusion zone is an unreasonable attempt to repress climate protesters.
01:20Our intention here is to have a protest that draws attention to our government's failure on the climate crisis.
01:26Hundreds are expected to take to the water today. Police have issued a statement urging protesters to follow safety advice and to avoid entering the harbour with the intention of obstructing users of the port.
01:38A high visibility police operation remains in place and police say there will be zero tolerance for dangerous and illegal behaviour.
01:47The
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