A climate protest disrupted question time at the New South Wales Parliament on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, after an activist climbed over a barrier from the public gallery and entered the Legislative Assembly chamber to protest against a coal mine expansion.

The protest targeted the approved extension of Hunter Valley Operations (HVO), a major coal mining operation in the Hunter Valley. The state’s Independent Planning Commission approved the extension in September, prompting renewed objections from environmental campaigners concerned about coal production and its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.

The incident involved activists from Rising Tide, an environmental advocacy group known for campaigning against fossil fuel expansion. During the disruption, eight activists threw pages from government and academic climate reports into the parliamentary chamber. The material included a report from the NSW Net Zero Commission that raised concerns about mine expansions and the state’s legislated emissions-reduction targets.

Parliamentary proceedings were interrupted for several minutes. Footage of the incident showed MPs reacting as the protester entered the chamber. Independent MP Michael Regan and Labor MP David Saliba helped parliamentary staff restrain the man, identified as Andrew Sneddon. The Speaker, Greg Piper, cut the parliamentary livestream during the disruption.

Sneddon said the action was driven by what he described as the Minns government’s failure to adequately address the climate crisis. The protest reflected a wider dispute over how New South Wales should balance the economic importance of mining with its environmental commitments.

The Hunter Valley has a long history of coal mining, which supports employment, businesses and regional economic activity. However, environmental groups argue that approving additional mining capacity conflicts with efforts to reduce emissions and limit the effects of climate change. The expansion has therefore become a focus of debate about the state’s energy transition and the future of coal production.

The parliamentary incident also raised questions about security and acceptable conduct inside the legislature. NSW Attorney General Michael Daley criticised the protester’s actions. Police said the man was removed from the chamber by NSW Police Special Constables and issued a move-on direction, which he complied with. At the time of reporting, police did not expect further action.

The protest did not reverse the mine approval. The planning decision and the environmental campaign against it remain separate from the parliamentary disruption.

The incident highlights the growing tension between climate campaigners and governments over fossil fuel projects. While campaigners say urgent action is needed to reduce emissions, elected representatives and planning authorities must consider environmental assessments, legal requirements, employment and regional economic impacts.

The mine extension and the government’s climate policies are likely to remain subjects of public debate. The disruption itself, meanwhile, has renewed attention on how protest movements seek to influence political decisions and the boundaries of conduct within parliamentary institutions.