It also comes just weeks after high-profile NSW activist Deanna “Violet” CoCo was hit with a $200 fine and a $500 damage bill after spray-painting four yellow Woodside Energy logos across the front of Perth Police Station and attempting to glue herself to the window.
Disrupt Burrup Hub protestor Kristen Morrissey being escorted from Woodside’s headquarters.Credit: Jesinta Burton
The 32-year-old spent the night behind bars and the next day Magistrate Matthew Walton commended her strong views and reiterated the importance of peaceful protest for a functioning democracy.
He said CoCo had gone “too far” and encouraged her to stay within the law.
“It’s a fundamental tenet of western democracy, a functioning democracy … it should be supported,” he told the court.
“You don’t have to go too far abroad to see the restrictions on personal freedoms and activism.
“In a lot of regards you should be commended; however, you breached the law.”
The campaign made national headlines when it launched in January after protester Joana Partyka sprayed the energy giant’s logo across the perspex covering Frederick McCubbin’s iconic 1889 painting Down on His Luck at the Art Gallery of WA.
The 37-year-old was slapped with a $7500 fine after pleading guilty to the incident.
On Wednesday, the South Australian Labor government, with the support of the Liberal opposition, passed legislation to increase the maximum fine for disruptive protests from $750 to $50,000 and added the option of imprisonment.
A Woodside spokeswoman confirmed employees had been mustered to safety by emergency services and that the company would be referring the matter to authorities.
“The safety of our people is Woodside’s highest priority,” the spokeswoman said.
“We respect people’s right to protest safely and legally, but it is unacceptable for protest action to put our people’s safety at risk. Woodside will be referring this matter to the relevant authorities.”