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.

• In short: Environmental activist group Blockade Australia has staged more than a dozen protests on the Hunter rail line since Tuesday.
• It has impacted coal trains and more than 200 passenger trains, leaving many commuters frustrated.
• What's next? Transport for NSW says it will continue to assess the situation and schedule replacement buses when necessary.

• In short: Australian book retailer Booktopia has gone into voluntary administration.
• The company has been trading at a loss for over a year and earlier made 50 staff redundant.
• What's next? Administrators are looking at selling or restructuring the main Booktopia business and its three subsidiaries.

• In short: Sisters Olivia and Hannah Lemin were treated for "burning" and "tingling" sensations after they were allegedly served insect repellent instead of juice at a Perth restaurant.
• The family says they have made a complaint to the Department of Health.
• What's next? The restaurant said it was investigating the incident, but declined to comment further.

'You must leave': brave museum worker stands up to armed alleged terrorist

By Jessica Brown

Updated June 27 2024 - 10:42am, first published 8:00am

📷 The incident was livestreamed online and what has come to light has painted a terrifying picture of what could have been.

A BRAVE museum worker could have made the difference between an armed assailant choosing to carry out a pre-planned alleged terrorist attack in Newcastle on Wednesday and deciding to walk away. Police, including the Joint Counter Terrorism Team, are investigating after emergency services were called to Newcastle Museum in Honeysuckle about 12.30pm to reports a man was dressed in tactical equipment and was brandishing a knife.

The incident was livestreamed online and what has come to light has painted a terrifying picture of what could have been.

A man can be seen in a bathroom toilet cubicle at the Civic Theatre preparing for his attack. It is understood he had circulated a manifesto detailing the reasons behind his plans.

📷 The man livestreamed his attempted attack online. Picture is a screenshot from that video.

He can then be seen walking across the road, in front of the light rail, before entering the office of Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp.

He quickly vacates the building and heads towards the museum. When he enters wearing the tactical equipment alerts were raised and one brave museum worker verbally confronts him saying "you can't walk around like that".

As the assailant decides on his next move, museum-goers including children can be seen entering the main lobby then jumping in shock and fear.

Again the museum worker addresses the man, "back to outside...you must leave" and a second worker can be heard saying "no knives in public spaces".

📷 An image from the feed that was distributing the live video of the alleged assailant.

In the end the man chooses to leave the museum and puts down his knife as the workers lock the doors and police are called.

Newcastle Police District officers went to the premises on Workshop Way where they arrested a 19-year-old male.

A subsequent search saw police find a number of items which have now been seized.

The man was taken to Newcastle police station and has now been charged with one count of other acts done in preparation for, or planning, for terrorist act, contrary to Section 101.6 of the Criminal Code Act (CTH).

Following further inquiries, police have confirmed the existence of the document that had been circulated to a number of public figures and media outlets.

The man, from Raymond Terrace, has been refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday June 27.

There is no ongoing threat to the community relation to this investigation.

Inquiries are continuing.

The Joint Counter Terrorism Team Sydney is comprised of members from the NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and NSW Crime Commission.

Anyone with information about extremist activity or possible threats to the community should come forward, no matter how small or insignificant you think the information may be. The National Security Hotline is 1800 123 400.

• In short: Tasmanian art gallery Mona has hung artworks by Pablo Picasso in a female toilet cubicle in response to a failed court bid to exclude men from a women-only art installation.
• In April, a court ruling found Mona discriminated when it refused a New South Wales man entry to its Ladies Lounge.
• What's next? Mona curator Kirsha Kaechele is appealing the discrimination ruling in the Supreme Court.

• In short: Australia will restrict the sale of vapes to pharmacies from next week, as the Greens agree to pass a proposed ban.
• The government has agreed however to water down restrictions that would have required adults to obtain a prescription.
• What's next? The laws will be debated and put to a vote in parliament later this week.

South Australia has been suffering through one of the driest starts to the year on record, leaving little for livestock to graze on in most agricultural regions.  

Coles has introduced national limits on egg purchases due to a growing bird flu outbreak in Victoria.

The highly pathogenic H7N3 strain of bird flu has been detected on five farms in the state's southwest, with more than half a million chickens euthanised
in an effort to stop the spread of the disease.

The supermarket giant's customers in every state and territory can now only buy a maximum of two egg cartons, with the exception of Western Australia.

Coles says the limit is temporary but has not revealed how long it is expected to last.

• In short: Advocates who have lost loved ones to industrial manslaughter await legislation changes to address "gross negligence".
• The state government also announced a special prosecution unit responsible for prosecuting industrial manslaughter cases.
• What's next? The proposed penalties of 25-year jail terms and $20 million in fines will be introduced in parliament today.

• In short: The Fair Work Commission has increased both the minimum and award wages by 3.75 per cent.
• The decision means the national minimum wage will be $24.10 per hour or $913.91 per week, based on a 38-hour week.
• What's next? The increase to minimum and award wages will take effect from July 1.

Additional coverage:

• The Conversation: Low-paid wages up 3.75%, with more to come for childcare and health professionals
• SBS (audio): Australia's trade unions disappointed by minimum wage changes
• The Business Times: Australia raises minimum wage 3.75%, aiding inflation fight
• ABC: Fair Work's wage rise may keep the economy on its 'narrow path' but leaves many households teetering on the edge

I read this while enjoying a glass of the date rape drug known as Shiraz which some users consume to the point of death.

You could power a city on my eyerolls. My message to the community is to demand reasonable and measured reporting on drugs, and sensible drug policy with a harm minimisation orientation.

Or you know, let's get hysterical about people taking a ghb prodrug that's harder to dose and more likely to be contaminated because it's easier to import than GHB. That'll keep the kids safe.

• In short: Police have given university students at an on-campus Gaza solidarity encampment a deadline of midday tomorrow to leave or risk further action, including arrests.
• The Australian National University also issued a directive to students to leave, saying the encampment posed "serious safety concerns".
• What's next? Protest activity has died down and students are considering the deadline.