Next step in anti-Woodside protesters’ legal drama

A number of Disrupt Burrup Hub members have fronted court, charged after their protests outside a mining boss’ home allegedly broke the law.

A group of protesters who have targeted Western Australian-based energy giant Woodside have fronted a Perth court after their activism allegedly breached the law.

Disrupt Burrup Hub members Jessie Noakes, Gerard Mazza, Matilda Lane-Rose and Emil Davey all appeared before Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday, charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.

About 30 protesters, including drummers, parked themselves outside Perth’s Central Law Courts on Tuesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Anthony Anderson

The Disrupt Burrup Hub members and supporters were there as four of their members fronted court inside. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Anthony Anderson

WA Police allege the group went to the Perth home of Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill in the early hours of August 1, with the intention of carrying out a demonstration involving spray-paint.

However, the group was apprehended within minutes of arriving on the scene, with Mr Noakes, 34, and Ms Lane-Rose, 19, spending the night in custody before charges were laid.

About 30 Disrupt Burrup members and supporters, including a number of drummers, camped outside Perth’s Central Law Courts building on Tuesday morning as the matters were heard.

The group strongly opposes Woodside’s Burrup Hub gas project being developed on the Burrup Peninsula, in WA’s Pilbara region, because of both its environmental impacts and damage caused to the nearby Murujuga rock art, which are some of the oldest Indigenous pictoglyphs in the world.

Matilda Lane-Rose, 19, one of the protesters arrested outside the home of the Woodside CEO on August 1. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Anthony Anderson

Ms Lane-Rose is due back in the same court on November 21, alongside her co-accused. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Anthony Anderson

The group, represented by lawyer Zarah Burgess, all had their matters adjourned until November 21.

Mr Mazza, 30, appeared in court via audio link.

Supporters outside cheered as Ms Lane-Rose and Mr Davey, 21, left the court building.

They were met with chants of “DISRUPT THE BURRUP / F**K UP THE HUB!”

Disrupt Burrup Hub media adviser Jesse Noakes Picture: NCA NewsWire / Anthony Anderson

Disrupt Burrup strongly opposes a major Woodside Energy gas project in WA’s Pilbara. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Anthony Anderson

WA Police are demanding the national broadcaster hand over its footage of climate protesters.

The ABC has said it would not hand over anything which compromises the identity of those who appeared in the program under the condition of anonymity.

Originally published as Next step in anti-Woodside protesters’ legal drama