Activists charged over coal protest
Pair blocks rail line at Jondaryan
POLICE have charged two climate change protesters after they chained themselves to a concrete-filled barrel on the rail line at Jondaryan, blocking it for more than six hours.
The protest by Frontline Action on Coal Brisbane kicked off about 6.30am yesterday, when Emma Dorge and a man named John, who declined to give his last name, moved a metal barrel filled with concrete onto the tracks and locked their arms inside it.
More than six hours later, witnesses said police took to the barrel, first with a hammer and chisel, and then with a grinder.
The duo was arrested and taken to the Toowoomba watchhouse about 12.30pm.
Both protesters were charged with one count of trespass, one count of obstructing police, one count of obstructing a railway, and one count of disobeying a direction.
Speaking to The Chronicle yesterday morning with one arm locked inside the barrel, Ms Dorge said: “Personally I feel like we’ve exhausted other avenues of dissent and we need to stop mining coal now. We’re out here because New Hope wants to expand Acland to stage three.”
An Aurizon spokeswoman condemned the protesters’ “irresponsible actions”.
“Fully loaded coal trains can take up to two kilometres to stop, even when the train crew apply the emergency brake,” she said.
“Everyone has a right to express their opinion but not when it comes at the expense of safety for the community and our employees.”
The purpose of the Front Line Action on Coal protest was to highlight the impact coal has on the climate and environment.
Organisers said the action was sparked by the Queensland Supreme Court overturning the Land Court judgment which had recommended the Queensland Government reject the New Acland Coal Mine stage three expansion.