Activist jailed for securing herself to equipment at Newcastle port

📷 Laura Davy, 21, has been sentenced to three months in jail for securing herself to a coal reclaimer as part of a protest backed by Blockade Australia. Picture supplied

An environmental activist who secured herself to a coal reclaimer in Newcastle at the weekend has been jailed.

Laura Davy, 21, was on Monday sentenced to three months in prison and fined $1100 for the illegal protest at Port Waratah Coal Services early on Sunday morning.

Her co-accused, 22-year-old Dominic Burgess, was also due to face Newcastle Local Court on Monday.

In a statement, Blockade Australia - the organisation for which Davy was acting - described the sentence as a “shocking escalation” and said an appeal was expected to be lodged on Monday afternoon.

📷 The response to some of the previous protesters who have taken part in action that started in June. Pictures by Peter Lorimer

The activists’ group has been backing ongoing illegal disruptions to the coal freight line and port for the past fortnight, with people charged from Singleton to Newcastle.

“After more than 30 arrests as part of a sustained Blockade Australia mobilisation, Laura is the first to be sentenced under the harsh anti-protest laws introduced in 2022. Introduced to stifle protests in NSW, these laws faced huge backlash from activists and civil society for being anti-democratic in nature,” a statement from Blockade Australia said.

"Davy, a young person with very limited priors (only a low level good behavior bond in Tasmania) is having an appeal lodged on their behalf this afternoon.

“Laura, like many young people, took part in the Blockade Australia mobilisation to confront the system that is putting her future in jeopardy.”

Magistrate Michael Barko handed down the sentence after Davy pleaded guilty to trespassing with a serious safety risk, and seriously disrupting a major facility. She is due to be released in October.

A few hours before Davy and Burgess were arrested, police were called to the rail corridor connecting Sandgate and Kooragang Island where they found 29-year-old Clancey Jay Maher obstructing trains.

Maher was charged and was also due to face court on Monday.

Sunday’s disruptions came after a 21-year-old Queensland woman was charged for obstructing trains at Farley, near Maitland.