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.
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 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.
Her co-accused, 22-year-old Dominic Burgess, faced Newcastle Local Court on Monday on two charges.
He was granted conditional bail without having to enter pleas and his case was adjourned to July 11.
A few hours before Davy and Burgess were arrested, police were called to the rail corridor connecting Sandgate and Kooragang Island, where they allegedly found 29-year-old Clancey Jay Maher obstructing trains.
Maher also fronted court on Monday and was released on bail conditions. She will go back to court later this month.
Another protester was behind bars, expected to face court on Tuesday, after police were called to reports a number of people had entered the rail corridor at Glennies Creek, north of Singleton, at about 6.30am on Monday and were obstructing trains.
A 33-year-old woman from Victoria was arrested at the scene.
Blockade Australia protests have been going on daily in the Hunter since June 25, causing major disruptions to passenger trains. They have been slammed by politicians and authorities as dangerous and illegal.
A police strike force has been stood up to investigate the protests. Several of the protesters have been fined between $750 and $1300 in court.
