Adani takes prolific Brisbane protester to Supreme Court

MINING company Adani has launched landmark civil damages action against a serial protester and one of the mine’s most outspoken opponents, who it claims has orchestrated a sustained campaign of harassment and intimidation against the company, costing millions of dollars.

The Galilee Basin miner and its Carmichael Rail Network have lodged Supreme Court action against former Greens mayoral candidate Benjamin Pennings, seeking damages for breach of confidence, intimidation and conspiracy.

The company is also seeking an injunction to stop Mr Pennings, a prolific activist and protester, from promoting “Dob in Adani” and “Infiltration” campaigns and from inducing or attempting to induce Adani employees and affiliates to disclose confidential company information.

According to the statement of claim, Adani alleges Mr Pennings, as a spokesman for the Galilee Blockade group, has been involved in ongoing action to disrupt the business over a number of years.

It claims Mr Pennings ( pictured) helped orchestrate an “infiltration campaign” whereby people were encouraged to apply for jobs with the company and then leak confidential information back to the mine’s opponents.

It also claims he was involved in the “Dob in Adani” campaign, in which contractors and affiliates with the mine were targeted by activists, causing a number of companies, including Greyhound Aust tralia, to cease relationships w with the mine and its rail line.

Brisbane-based Mr Pennings is a key spokesman and organiser for the activist group G Galilee Blockade and is heavily involved in campaigning with the Stop Adani movement.

He previously worked for Greenpeace and also ran for the Greens as a candidate for lord mayor of Brisbane in 2016.

Mr Pennings has more than 12,000 followers on his public Facebook page, where he regularly posts about his opposition to Adani and fossil fuels and shares posts from the Galilee Blockade page.