Australia’s ‘Protestival’: Kayaks, Music, Climate Action — and the Risk of Arrest

What is the “Protestival”?

What started as a grassroots climate protest has evolved into something much bigger — a full-on “protestival.” Rising Tide, an activist group, has organised annual flotillas, rallies and music events aimed at drawing attention to Australia’s continued reliance on fossil fuels. The climax is a mass gathering around Port of Newcastle — the world’s largest coal export port — where protestors attempt to block coal shipments with kayaks and small boats.

Described by organisers as “the People’s Blockade,” the 2025 edition — running from late November into early December — promises a mix of activism and community festival vibes: kayak flotillas, concerts, workshops, and protest camps open to people of all ages.

Why protesters are gathering — and what they demand

Activists say the blockade is more than symbolic. They argue that allowing coal exports to continue unabated undermines Australia’s climate credibility, even as the world confronts escalating climate disasters.

Their demands are clear and bold:

• An immediate stop to all new coal and gas project approvals.
• A rapid and fair transition for communities and workers historically dependent on fossil-fuel industries.
• Implementation of a high export-profit tax on fossil fuel exports — modelled after similar schemes in countries like Norway — with revenues directed toward climate mitigation and social support.

For many protesters — from young people to older Australians — the “protestival” represents solidarity across generations and backgrounds, united by fear for the climate future and frustration with government inaction.

The experience: kayaks, concerts — and tension with authorities

Unlike typical protests, the “protestival” blends water-based direct action with community and cultural elements.

• Participants launch in kayaks and small boats — paddling through the harbour in an attempt to block coal ships.
• Onshore, there are tents, talk sessions, workshops, panels, and music performances. Past editions have featured concerts with indie-pop acts and local bands.
• The mix of activism and festival atmosphere — kids to grandparents, activists to musicians — makes it more accessible and inclusive than traditional protest events. Many view it as a community-building exercise as much as an act of dissent.

But the “festival” branding doesn’t mask the high stakes. There’s a substantial risk: in previous years, hundreds of people have been arrested during the flotilla for breaching exclusion zones or obstructing shipping.

Police and government officials have warned participants they could face serious consequences — including arrest and prosecution — if they enter restricted harbour waters. Authorities argue the blockade endangers vessel navigation, public safety, and the port’s operations.

The scale of mobilisation — and the shifting public eye

What began as a fringe action has grown into one of Australia’s largest and most high-profile climate protests. Last year’s blockade drew around 7,000 participants; organisers hope 2025 will be even bigger.

The protestival’s growth reflects mounting public frustration over frequent floods, fires, extreme weather — and what many perceive as government failure to act decisively on climate. Protesters see this not only as civil disobedience, but as a moral call to protect future generations.

Support from environmental organisations such as Greenpeace Australia Pacific adds weight and visibility, signalling that the protestival is part of a broader, nationwide push for systemic change.

The risks and controversies — protest vs. port, activism vs. law

The protestival raises complex questions:

• Safety and disruption: Authorities warn that flotillas jeopardise maritime safety, risk collisions, and could block vital shipping — potentially impacting jobs, trade, and public infrastructure.
• Criminal charges and protest laws: Many past participants face legal consequences. Last year’s 173 arrests led to dozens of court cases, with some activists still awaiting trial or sentencing.
• Ethical concerns: Supporters argue it’s an act of necessary civil resistance. Critics — including political and business figures — say it amounts to economic sabotage and recklessness.

For protesters, the risk is part of the strategy: civil disobedience aims to provoke conversation and pressure policymakers. For opponents, it’s an unwanted provocation threatening order and stability.

What could come next — for the protest movement and for Australia’s climate debate

• The 2025 blockade may mark a turning point: with growing numbers, media coverage, and public sympathy, the protestival could force climate policy onto the national agenda.
• Legal challenges: Many arrested in previous years have pleaded not guilty. This time around, courts may be asked again to weigh public safety laws against the right to protest.
• Broader mobilisation: With intergenerational participation — from school-aged children to retirees — the protestival model might inspire similar actions across other Australian ports or fossil-fuel sites.
• Policy pressure: With activists calling for drastic reforms — no new fossil-fuel projects, export taxes, fossil-fuel phase-out — the protest could sharpen public debate on climate policy and economic transition.

Final Thought

The “protestival” represents a new phase in Australia’s climate activism — combining art, community, direct action and conviction. Kayaks and concerts, calls for justice and risk of arrest: it’s grassroots resistance in full colour, and a stark reminder that for many Australians, climate change is no longer a distant issue — it’s personal, immediate and urgent.