November 25, 2025 - Authorities in Australia's New South Wales (NSW) state have created a maritime exclusion zone around Newcastle harbour, limiting the impact of environmental protests planned to take place over 27 November–2 December.

Vessels can move through the exclusion zone upon receiving approval from the maritime and police authorities, state regulator Transport for NSW said in a 21 November notice. The exclusion zone will apply from 7am local time on 28 November until 7am on 1 December, it added.

Australian environmental group Rising Tide will hold its third annual People's Blockade protest in Newcastle over 27 November–2 December. The group will not appeal Transport for NSW's exclusion zone declaration, a spokesperson confirmed to Argus on 24 November.

Protestors blocked Newcastle port's shipping channel for 32 hours over 25-26 November 2023 as part of a People's Blockade protest, preventing ships from entering or leaving. Newcastle port is Australia's largest coal export hub, and it handled 100mn t of coal exports in 2024.

The group is calling for a halt to new fossil fuel projects, a 78pc tax on fossil fuel export profits, and an end to Newcastle coal exports by 2030.

NSW's Supreme Court prevented People's Blockade protestors from blocking Newcastle port's shipping channel during their demonstration in November 2024.

Transport for NSW's declaration follows weather and rail disruptions at the port of Newcastle over May-September. Producers shipped 38mn t of coal out of the Port Waratah Coal Services' terminals at the hub in May-September, down by 7.1pc from the same period a year earlier, because of these persistent operational challenges.

Argus' Australian NAR 6,000 kcal/kg fob Newcastle price fell from $109.86/t on 26 August to $101.74/t on 25 September, before rising back up to $109.63/t on 21 November, when it was last assessed.