Protest a ‘waste of time’
Adani activist no superhero, just a pawn: magistrate
AN UNEMPLOYED freelance writer and Adani activist has been slammed for wasting police time and resources in protest activity a magistrate said came to nothing apart from landing the man in court.
Magistrate James Morton said the 47-year-old from NSW had been used “as a pawn” when he chained himself to a cattle grid on Stratford Road, near Mount Coolon, in a bid to stop work on the mine’s rail corridor.
Benjamin Roy Winch claimed, “I’m just doing my small part” to which Mr Morton said, “your small part’s unlawful”.
Police arrived at the site about 8am on October 8 and found Winch seated on a chair. He had locked himself to a cattle grid, stopping contractors from accessing and working on the rail corridor.
Bowen Magistrates Court heard about 15 vehicles were lined up and unable to continue because Winch, who was with a group of protestors, was blocking the road.
Prosecutor Sergeant Emma Myors said as a result of his refusal to move, specialist police were called to cut Winch free.
Sgt Myors highlighted the “inconvenience that these sorts of actions place, not only on the police and the workers themselves but the entire community” and the risk it also placed on Winch and the police called to free him.
The court heard Winch’s
actions were “politically motivated” and it was the first time he had engaged in this type of conduct.
The court heard his parents’ home burned down in the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires, which “had a significant impact on him” and his concerns about climate change and “contributed to the motivation behind his behaviour”.
He was a published writer with works including social
and political commentary, and he lived with a group in the Byron Bay hinterland.
Mr Morton told Winch his actions did not “do anything”.
“It’s only a momentary incident because you haven’t done (anything), you understand,” Mr Morton said.
“You haven’t stopped the ships coming in and taking the coal, you haven’t stopped the coal being dug out of the ground at Collinsville or the
other coal mines.” Winch replied, “I’m not a superhero, your honour.”
“You’re definitely not that,” Mr Morton said. “You’ve been coached into this by other people who’ve used you as a pawn.”
Mr Morton said because Winch was a first-time offender he would receive a “slap on the wrist”. He was fined $350 and a conviction was not recorded.