Bob Brown Foundation protesters fined $500 for chaining themselves to MMG machinery
After nearly two years since they were charged, 22 Tarkine protesters have finally had their day in court, after some chained themselves to machinery. What happened in court >>
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Twenty-two protesters who demonstrated at a mining site in the Tarkine have had their court matters finalised after nearly two years, with most walking away with no conviction recorded and a fine of $500.
The charges related to protest activity along Helilog Road in Rosebury, where the Bob Brown Foundation has been holding demonstrations against mining company MMG, which intends to build a tailings dam in the Tarkine.
In several separate incidents between May and July in 2021, some of the protesters entered the mining lease occupied by MMG via Helilog Road, with several chaining themselves to excavators and other machinery and others blocking access to the site.
At the Hobart Magistrates Court on Tuesday, the court heard incident after incident where protesters refused to unlock themselves and leave the site, subsequently being arrested.
Of the 24 protesters charged with trespass, 11 were also charged with hindering or obstructing mining operations, but the secondary charge was dismissed.
22 pleaded guilty and were ordered to pay a $500 fine, along with court costs of $71.40,
while two others were stood down until July.
Only one protester had a conviction recorded.
Harrison Vermont, who received a fine but had no conviction recorded, said it was important to protect the Tarkine.
“If that rainforest remains under threat, then I would consider looking at options to protect in the future, it should be protected,” Mr Vermont said.
“That is being looked at by our environment Minister as we speak anyway.”
Tzigane Scholz-Talbot, who was also fined but had no conviction recorded, said she was not deterred by the court process.
“I’d been reading up on a lot of the surrounding information, I spent a really long time deliberating and deciding what I can do,” she said.
“I made an informed decision and decided it was the best thing to do for the environment.
“I wish this wasn’t a necessary part. It’s awful that we have to protest at all. This is 2021 when I got arrested but in 2023 we still have to be fighting this fight.”
Bob Brown Foundation Tarkine campaigner Scott Jordan, who was in court to support those facing charges, said protesters were being held to account, but MMG was not.
“These people have stood up to prevent mining activity in the road construction at Helilog Road by MMG, they’ve pleaded, they’ve accepted the penalty, and they’ve been fined as a result,” Mr Jordan said.
“These people are heroes, they’ve stood up for the wilderness … the company seems to be getting away scot-free.”
Two other people were charged with failing to comply with a direction given by a police officer, but the charges were dismissed.
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Originally published as Bob Brown Foundation protesters fined $500 for chaining themselves to MMG machinery
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