Lock-on law sparks mine protest fury
ANTI-COAL protesters have hit back at proposed new laws that could see “extremist” activists jailed for up to two years by defiantly locking-on to machinery at an Adani site using the very contraptions the State Government is attempting to outlaw.
A Rockhampton man, 55, was charged yesterday with contravene a direction after allegedly locking on to a drill rig at an Adani worksite 180km north of Clermont.
Protest group Frontline Action on Coal confirmed the latest act was in direct defiance of the State Government’s move to outlaw lock-on devices.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Tuesday announced new offences would be introduced to make possession or use of “dangerous devices” by “extremist” protesters punishable by law.
“Let me also make it very clear that these dangerous devices can contain glass and butane gases,” she said.
“Also, when these devices are used — for example, at railway yards or mining sites — our police have to travel vast distances away from their normal jobs in their local communities to deal with these extremists.”
Ms Palaszczuk said police had to travel 2½ hours to deal with the Adani site protester.
But the Premier’s claims have been vehemently denied by activists as “misleading”.
Galilee Blockade spokesman Ben Pennings said history was “littered with powerful people lying about peaceful protesters to justify draconian laws”.
Under the proposed laws, protesters who use “dangerous devices” could face up to two years in prison or a maximum $6527 fine.
Meanwhile, Resources Minister Matt Canavan yesterday took an extraordinary swipe at company Aurecon for ending its contract with Adani, labelling its decision “weak as p**s” and questioned how it “can hold their head up high”.
Aurecon, which has eight offices across Queensland, was expected to tell staff yesterday it had severed ties with the Indian giant after being targeted by climate change activists.
Aurecon worked on the original development of Abbot Point coal terminal during the early 1980s.
“Aurecon aren’t making the decision because they are concerned about the environment, they are doing it because they are letting a few bullies who blockade their office dictate what they do,” Senator Canavan said.