Anti-fracking protesters found not guilty of criminal damage to lawns outside NT Parliament

TWO anti-fracking protesters have been found not guilty of criminal damage after being charged over a protest that involved using a bobcat to dig holes in the lawns outside NT Parliament

Fracking protesters Lauren Mellor and Conrad Rory were found not guilty of criminal damage

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TWO anti-fracking protesters have been found not guilty of criminal damage after being charged over a protest that involved using a bobcat to dig holes in the lawns outside NT Parliament.

In a hearing last month, Lauren Mellor and Conrad Rory pleaded not guilty on the basis that they acted in defence of their land and water from potential destruction by fracking and with the defence of a “sudden or extraordinary emergency” in relation to fracking’s potential impact on climate change.

Judge John Neill ruled on Tuesday that the pair were not guilty because the prosecution did not establish that the “front lawns” of Parliament actually belonged to the NT Government.

“These are criminal proceedings where the prosecution bears the onus of establishing each element of the charge beyond reasonable doubt,” he said in his judgment.

“I am unable to infer simply from its proximity to the building that this patch of lawn is in fact part of the precincts of the Assembly.”

The protest action took place in April 2019. Picture: Supplied

Mr Neill also said he was satisfied Ms Mellor believed “that there existed circumstances of impending adverse environmental impact to the planet” as a result of fracking.

“The defendants gave evidence in summary that they engaged in the demonstration … because each of them believed the whole planet is facing an extraordinary emergency as a consequence of climate change and also the exacerbation of the adverse effects of climate change arising out of the continuing planet-wide extraction and use of fossil fuels, including the process of fracking,” he said.

Speaking to the NT News after the ruling, Mr Rory said they were pleasantly surprised by the verdict.

“It was a good outcome, we’re happy with the result,” he said.

“We were trying to do the right thing – stand up for our country, stand up for people, stand up for water, trying to protect what is rightfully ours.”

Ms Mellor said she hopes the ruling will set a precedent for similar action in the future.

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“I think the acknowledgment that we’re facing an extraordinary climate emergency … to have that acknowledgement from the court today it does set a precedent for everyone concerned about a safe climate future.”