Two protesters were held in police custody on Friday night after being arrested at Perth Convention Centre earlier in the day attempting to disrupt a Woodside AGM.
Media producer and former school teacher Gerard Mazza and graphic designer Tahlia Stolarski were charged with aggravated burglary with intent after they entered the meeting with a bottle of stench gas and smoke flares, intending to set them off in the crowd.
Gerard Mazza was arrested and charged with armed burglary after taking gas bombs to a Woodside AGM.Credit: Facebook
The pair are part of the Disrupt Burrup Hub campaign, which has been demanding that Woodside ceases gas exploits on the Burrup Peninsula.
“Yesterday, we aimed to shut down business as usual for Woodside using non-toxic, non-flammable stench gas and harmless smoke flares to sound the alarm about the climate and cultural emergency Woodside are enabling at the Burrup Hub,” a Disrupt Burrup spokesperson said.
Tahlia Stolarski was arrested and charged with armed burglary after taking gas bombs to a Woodside AGM.Credit: Facebook
“Woodside’s Burrup Hub will produce 6 billion tonnes of C02 over its lifetime, and is already causing permanent damage to ancient, sacred Murujuga rock art.”
A legal representative of the pair said it was “absurd” that the “ordinary, upstanding citizens” would be held in police custody overnight.
“Gerard previously taught at some of Perth’s most prestigious schools and now produces news for First Nations people in regional and remote communities,” barrister Zarah Burgess said.
“Tahlia is a mother of two young daughters and deeply engaged in her local community and business.
“Both are passionately concerned about the impacts of Woodside’s fossil fuel production on our children’s future and marginalised communities in this country and have faced the full force of the crackdown from authorities in response to their brave stand.”
Lawyers for the protesters told Perth Magistrates Court on Saturday that the gas – known as a stench bomb – they were planning to release was commonly used as a safety device and was therefore harmless to the crowd.
“It is commonly used as an emergency device to alert workers of impending danger, e.g. an underground worker who does not have ready access to hearing, can be alerted with this gas,” a defence lawyer said.
The pair were released on bail on a surety of $4000 each.