Gold Coast court: Police drop charges against alleged Commonwealth Games protesters

Four protesters accused of interrupting a Sunrise broadcast during the 2018 Commonwealth Games have had their charges dropped.

FOUR protesters accused of interrupting a Sunrise broadcast during the 2018 Commonwealth Games have had their charges dropped.

Police this morning offered no evidence in the Southport District Court to charges of obstructing police and contravening a move on direction against Wayne Wharton, Lawrence Miles, Kain Rainsford and Debbie Jones.

Police did not give a reason why the charges were dropped.

The four were accused of failing to move on after allegedly interrupting the Seven News program.

Indigenous protesters pictured disrupting a broadcast of the Seven Network's Sunrise program at Kurrawa Beach on the Gold Coast on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 (AAP Image/Ed Jackson)

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Sunrise caused controversy during the game over comments made on the program about Indigenous issues.

The group’s lawyer Ron Behlau, of Behlau Murakami Grant said Ms Jones had been taken to hospital following the protest in Broadbeach.

“There has been a sensible decision made by the prosecution in this matter not to proceed to trial against these people,” he said.

“The right to peacefully assembly exists for all Australia regardless of race, nationality or colour.”

Outside court Mr Miles was at a loss to why he was even charged in the first place.

“I didn’t do nothing to you so why should you do something to me,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter what colour you are”.

The group is not sure what their next steps are.

Mr Miles said they would consider their options.