Veteran environmental campaigner Drew Hutton has been arrested and charged after protesting against the coal seam gas industry on a property near Tara in southwest Queensland.
Police this evening confirmed Mr Hutton had been charged with the "obstruction of a petroleum authority holder" and would appear in the Chinchilla Magistrates Court tomorrow.
Friends of the Earth member and fellow campaigner Cassie McMahon said Mr Hutton was among about 25 people at the site today.
Ms McMahon said a large number of police officers arrived on the scene this afternoon.
“They told us under ... the Petroleum and Gas Act that we were not allowed to be there and that we had to leave the premises,” she said. “The remainder of us were in the process of departing when he [Mr Hutton] was arrested.
“Drew Hutton has refused the bail conditions and could be in custody for 30 days at the Toowoomba watch house.”
Ms McMahon, who yesterday chained herself to a bulldozer as part of the protest, said campaigners were undeterred by the developments today.
I’m very surprised that landholders do not have the ability to invite people to stay on their property to protect their property,” Ms McMahon said.
Read article as reported in Brisbane Times at this link.
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