Rothbury riot

[3] In September 1929, the NSW State Parliament introduced an Unlawful Assembly Act designed to suppress the miners, which authorised police to break up any gatherings.

[2] On 16 December 1929 about 5,000 miners demonstrated against the introduction of non-union labour into the Rothbury mine by the conservative Bavin government, which had taken over the colliery.

The government called in 70 New South Wales police officers from districts outside Newcastle to protect the colliery and allow the entry of non-union labour.

When they charged the gate bearing clubs and firearms, the miners were met with defensive baton blows by the police and there were hand-to-hand clashes.

"[4] In June 1930, after fifteen months of living in poverty and starvation, the miners capitulated and returned to work on reduced contract wages.