BURRUP ACTIVIST AIMS TO MAKE HISTORY WITH CLIMATE EMERGENCY DEFENCE

Anti-Woodside activist Trent Rojahn sprayed yellow paint on Woodside’s Perth HQ on February 12. Credit: Supplied, Disrupt Burrup Hub.

On Monday, a Disrupt Burrup Hub climate activist pleaded not guilty to criminal damage charges resulting from his use of a fire extinguisher to spray yellow paint on Woodside’s Perth headquarters in February. 

Climate activist Trent Rojahn said his action was a protest against the destruction caused by Woodside's Burrup Hub facilities at Murujuga in the Pilbara of both sacred rock art and the climate.

Mr Rojahn entered a plea of not guilty based on an emergency, given his actions were undertaken within the context of a climate emergency.

Mr Rojahn’s lawyer Zarah Burgess said if successful, the plea of not guilty based on emergency would set a precedent in Western Australian law. 

“This will be a first and absolutely it would set precedent and that’s part of why we are pursuing this,” she said.

“It’s definitely a defence that has been used in other jurisdictions overseas. It’s sometimes referred to as the defence of necessity.”

Listen to our interview with Ms Burgess to learn more.