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At the Ipswich Magistrates Court today, the three activists had no convictions recorded against them after pleading guilty to three charges resulting from the 33-hour occupation of Swanbank B on July 11 and 12 this year.
Julien Vincent, 27, of Marrickville, NSW, Pete Cooper, 27, of Rose Bay, NSW, and Paul Grajewski, 29, of Petersham, NSW were charged with wilful damage, unregulated high-risk activities and unlawfully gathering in or on a building or structure.
They were each fined $500.
Magistrate Hayden Sternqvuist said the activists clearly had put a heavy emphasis on the need to act on climate change in their peaceful protest.
Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner Julien Vincent said he had taken part in the peaceful protest to call for Australia to be powered by renewable energy.
“Time is running out to make the cuts to carbon emissions to allow us to avoid catastrophic climate change,” Mr Vincent said.
Swanbank B is responsible for more than 2 million tonnes of carbon emissions a year – equivalent to the annual pollution of 300,000 cars.
“Renewable power such as solar and geothermal must urgently replace dirty coal-fired power plants, like Swanbank,” Mr Vincent said.
"The Queensland Government is being negligent by not utilising the state’s solar resources which are the best in the world.
“Instead of relying on climate-destroying coal power, Queensland should be a leading developer and exporter of a zero-emission technology to other countries."
Queensland and Australia should look to Germany where the renewable energy industry employs a quarter of a million people.
Increasing numbers of Australians are choosing to take part in peaceful protests calling for action on climate change.
On November 1, 29 activists from the Newcastle-based Rising Tide climate action group were arrested after a six-hour protest at the Bayswater power station in NSW’s Hunter Valley.
International climate change scientist Professor David Karoly said in a reference supplied to the court regarding Mr Vincent that Australia was the developed country most at risk from adverse impacts of climate change.
“Julien’s motivation for his actions at Swanbank were purely to bring greater awareness to the Australia community of the damage that is being caused and will be caused to Australia and Australians from continued emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere,” Professor Karoly said.
On July 11, 13 activists entered the plant, but nine were arrested before they could ascend the stack.
The charges against the remaining nine activists were also heard today, but they did not have to appear before the court.
The nine all pleaded guilty to wilful damage and unlawfully gathering in or on a building or structure.
They were each charged $300.
Another Swanbank activist, Lisa Kamphausen, of Edinburgh, Scotland, who also scaled the smokestack, faced court in August where she had no conviction recorded against her.
She was placed on a good behaviour bond for two years.
Julien Vincent, 27, of Marrickville, NSW, Pete Cooper, 27, of Rose Bay, NSW, and Paul Grajewski, 29, of Petersham, NSW were charged with wilful damage, unregulated high-risk activities and unlawfully gathering in or on a building or structure.
They were each fined $500.
Magistrate Hayden Sternqvuist said the activists clearly had put a heavy emphasis on the need to act on climate change in their peaceful protest.
Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner Julien Vincent said he had taken part in the peaceful protest to call for Australia to be powered by renewable energy.
“Time is running out to make the cuts to carbon emissions to allow us to avoid catastrophic climate change,” Mr Vincent said.
Swanbank B is responsible for more than 2 million tonnes of carbon emissions a year – equivalent to the annual pollution of 300,000 cars.
“Renewable power such as solar and geothermal must urgently replace dirty coal-fired power plants, like Swanbank,” Mr Vincent said.
"The Queensland Government is being negligent by not utilising the state’s solar resources which are the best in the world.
“Instead of relying on climate-destroying coal power, Queensland should be a leading developer and exporter of a zero-emission technology to other countries."
Queensland and Australia should look to Germany where the renewable energy industry employs a quarter of a million people.
Increasing numbers of Australians are choosing to take part in peaceful protests calling for action on climate change.
On November 1, 29 activists from the Newcastle-based Rising Tide climate action group were arrested after a six-hour protest at the Bayswater power station in NSW’s Hunter Valley.
International climate change scientist Professor David Karoly said in a reference supplied to the court regarding Mr Vincent that Australia was the developed country most at risk from adverse impacts of climate change.
“Julien’s motivation for his actions at Swanbank were purely to bring greater awareness to the Australia community of the damage that is being caused and will be caused to Australia and Australians from continued emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere,” Professor Karoly said.
On July 11, 13 activists entered the plant, but nine were arrested before they could ascend the stack.
The charges against the remaining nine activists were also heard today, but they did not have to appear before the court.
The nine all pleaded guilty to wilful damage and unlawfully gathering in or on a building or structure.
They were each charged $300.
Another Swanbank activist, Lisa Kamphausen, of Edinburgh, Scotland, who also scaled the smokestack, faced court in August where she had no conviction recorded against her.
She was placed on a good behaviour bond for two years.
Contact information
-
Ria Voorhaar, Media Officer
mo: 0400 376 021Julien Vincent, Climate and Energy Campaigner mo: 0419 179 529
