Bail conditions relaxed for 19 year old climate campaigner in court this morning after counter-terror police sting outside the front of Woodside CEO's house

19 year old Disrupt Burrup Hub campaigner Matilda Lane-Rose faced a Perth court this morning after being ambushed by more than a dozen counter-terror police before she could commence her protest outside Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill’s house. A yellow spray can and some water balloons were found nearby.

Ms Lane-Rose was charged with one count of Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence, and subsequently received punitive non-association bail conditions preventing her from contact with many Disrupt Burrup Hub campaigners in a clear attempt to impede the campaign's capacity to communicate its message about Woodside's Burrup Hub.

Magistrate Andrew Matthews this morning relaxed Ms Lane-Rose’s bail conditions to permit her to associate with all Disrupt Burrup Hub campaigners with the exception of her three co-accused for the conspiracy charge.

It came the day after 21 year old Disrupt Burrup Hub campaigner Emil Davey faced court for the same conspiracy charge after being stopped at gunpoint by unmarked WA counter-terror police the day before the planned protest outside the house of Woodside CEO Meg O'Neill, which Mr Davey did not attend.

Ms Lane-Rose’s matter was adjourned to September 28 to meet up with Mr Davey and two other Disrupt Burrup hub campaigners facing court, with whom she remains barred from associating.

Woodside’s Burrup Hub consists of the Pluto and Karratha gas plants, the Perdaman and Yara fertiliser plants, and the Scarborough and Browse gas fields off WA’s north-west coast and threatens UNESCO-nominated sacred Murujuga rock art with toxic emissions and the future of every home on planet earth with 6 billion tonnes of CO2 emitted by 2070.

On July 25, Woodside threatened to sue Disrupt Burrup Hub campaigners in the Supreme Court of Western Australia for loss of earnings and brand damage, while WA police have repeatedly invaded the homes and conducted constant surveillance of Disrupt Burrup Hub campaigners to protect Woodside’s interests. 

Speaking outside court this morning, 19 year old English literature and communications student Matilda Lane-Rose said:

“This was a peaceful protest by a 19 year old woman who never set foot on the property of the Woodside CEO but was ambushed by more than a dozen counter-terror police lying in wait. No one was in danger and there was no possibility of anyone entering the house during the protest out the front - except the dozen WA counter-terror cops already there when I arrived. WA police and the WA government are doing everything they can to stop this campaign communicating because we’re getting the message out about Woodside’s Burrup Hub."

Speaking outside court yesterday , 21 year old Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts music student Emil Davey said:

“I appeared before court today as a result of police bullying and intimidation, and the toe-licking relationship between the WA Police and Woodside. The cosy relationship that WA police have with Woodside. I’ve been charged in relation to a peaceful protest that I did not even attend. If you want to talk about the ethics of a young nineteen year old woman’s paint stunt outside the home of Meg O’Neill, let’s talk about the ethics of sacred Murujuga rock art being destroyed by Woodside’s Burrup Hub right now. Let’s talk about police holding me at gunpoint and raiding my home twice in the past month. Let’s talk about 6 billion tonnes of CO2 and the millions of homes that will be lost in the next few years due to the climate catastrophe that Woodside’s Burrup Hub is driving.”