A young Tasmanian climate activist has been sentenced to three months in jail for her involvement in protests that have shut down the Port of Newcastle for nearly two weeks.
Laura Davy, 21, pleaded guilty on Monday to charges of entering a major facility causing serious disruption and trespassing on non-agricultural lands with the intent to commit an indictable offence.
In addition to her time behind bars, Davy will also have to pay a fine of $1,100.
Davy’s sentence is the harshest penalty imposed on protesters so far, with most of the 30 arrested since the beginning of the Blockade Australia demonstrations on June 25th only facing fines ranging from $750 to $1,500.
Veteran protestor Bob Brown said the “real criminals” were the coal exporters and politicians, not the activists sitting in front of trains.
Blockade Australia spokesperson Brad Homewood said he was “shocked but not surprised” by the sentence.
“This is what we expect the state to do, to repress people in what we would call lawful protest and direct action,” he said.
The protest, which has involved daily actions and caused the cancellation of 500 passenger trains, is now in its 14th day and is set to continue for at least another week.
Blockade Australia has been criticised for its tactics, which police have described as “illegal and dangerous”.
“To think you could safely conduct yourself to emergency stop a train, it’s ridiculous,” Australian Rail Track Corporation CEO Wayne Johnson said.
Blockade Australia on Monday night said Davy was released from custody on appeals bail and must leave the Newcastle region within 48 hours.
