ACTIVISTS FACE COURT FOR BURRUP BLOCKADE

Petrina Harley and Liz Burrows. Credit: Supplied.

Two activists faced Karratha Magistrate’s Court yesterday for blocking access to industrial facilities at Murujuga, the Burrup Peninsula in November last year.

The pair argued their actions were justified because Woodside’s gas plants and other industry on the Burrup were contributing to climate and cultural emergencies.

Elizabeth Burrows and Petrina Harley were told by the Magistrate their ‘emergency defence’ was unlikely to succeed.

Mardudhunera woman Raelene Cooper testified to what she said was a cultural emergency, claiming rock art had faded and medicine plants had stopped growing because of Burrup industry.

The magistrate said Ms Cooper did not have the expertise to establish that these impacts were caused by industry.

Ms Burrows and Ms Harley will return to court in January.