Climate activists disrupted proceedings in the New South Wales Parliament after Andrew Sneddon, a member of environmental group Rising Tide, jumped from the public gallery into the chamber. During the protest, eight activists raised slogans against coal mine expansion and threw pages from climate reports inside the Parliament.
 

The demonstration took place amid renewed attention to the environmental impact of coal mining following a significant court ruling on October 7. The court dismissed a company’s appeal concerning the proposed expansion of the Mount Pleasant coal mine.
 

Court Ruling on Coal Mine Expansion
 

In its October 7 decision, the High Court stated that the planning commission had failed to properly consider possible conditions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly those generated when coal is burned overseas.
 

According to the ruling, emissions associated with the overseas use of coal account for approximately 98 per cent of the project’s estimated total emissions.
 

The decision has brought renewed focus to the environmental consequences of coal mine expansion and the need to consider emissions linked to the use of exported coal.
 

Activists Accuse Premier of Ignoring Climate Crisis
 

During the protest inside Parliament, the activists accused New South Wales Premier Chris Minns of failing to take the climate crisis seriously and ignoring its implications.
 

Their demonstration was aimed at opposing further coal mine expansion and drawing attention to climate-related concerns.
 

However, the incident prompted a strong response from the state government. Attorney General Michael Daley condemned the protest and described the demonstrator who entered the parliamentary chamber as a “lunatic”.
 

Parliament Announces Security Review
 

Following the security breach, the Speaker announced a comprehensive review of parliamentary security arrangements to prevent similar incidents in the future.
 

The incident has raised concerns about security procedures inside the parliamentary complex, where the activists managed to enter the chamber from the public gallery.
 

The protest came against the backdrop of the legal dispute over the Mount Pleasant coal mine expansion, highlighting the continuing debate over coal development, greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related responsibilities in Australia.