Environmental group Greenpeace faced a Mackay Magistrates court yesterday for unsafely operating a ship and failing to report a ship's movements under Queensland's marine safety laws over protests at north Queensland coal ports last year. But all charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence.
Greenpeace chief executive Linda Selvey says she is relieved.
"There would have been potential implications for both our charitable status and our ability to use ships for our important campaigning work," she said.
“We do accept the consequences of our actions and consider that the actions reflected our great concern about climate change and the expansion of the coal industry,” Dr Selvey said.
“This was the first time the organisation has been charged in its 30-year history in Australia, and it was a great concern to us that it was part of a trend of attempting to curtail freedom of expression.”
The captain of the Esperanza, Vladimir Votiacov, 40, faced court on eight charges, including trespass, unsafely operating a ship, wilful damage and disobeying harbour master's direction. He pleaded guilty to four maritime charges and was fined $8,000. He did not however, have a conviction recorded for his part in the protest.
Magistrate Ron Muirhead said he accepted there was no damage done.
“But you were given warnings and you acted in complete defiance of those warnings,” he said.
Captain Votiacov told the Mackay Mercury he was very satisfied with the outcome.
“I am a professional mariner extensively travelling, so a recorded conviction would have had a negative effect on my ability to travel,” he said.
Activists climbed the Abbot Point coal terminal, near Bowen, and the Hay Point coal terminal, south of Mackay, in August last year in protest over pollution caused by the expansion of the Australian coal industry.
The protest at Abbot Point brought operations to a standstill for 36 hours, after the Greenpeace boat, the Esperanza, allegedly moved in and blockaded the port.
The Queensland Resources Council said the stunt cost state taxpayers about $1 million a day in royalties, and BHP about $13 million a day.
The 15 activists involved in the protest faced court last month, pleaded guilty and were fined.
In a separate media statement Dr Linda Selvey, Greenpeace CEO said “Nine months ago, Greenpeace blockaded one of the world’s largest coal export ports to highlight the reckless expansion of coal in this country."
”Coal is the largest single contributor to climate change, and Australia is the world’s largest coal exporter.
"Our quarry mentality is depriving Australia of a place in the new clean energy economy, and posing an enormous threat to tourism.
”The recent grounding of the Chinese coal carrier, the Shen Neng 1, which gouged a three kilometre scar across the Douglas Shoal, leaking more than 2 tonnes of oil fuel oil, and plans to tow it to a World Heritage listed marine park is symptomatic of the short sightedness that puts profits ahead of the environment.
“Australia is in the process of doubling our coal export capacity, meaning thousands more ships will pass over the Great Barrier Reef every year. The Reef’s value was estimated last year at $51.4 billion. Climate change will steadily destroy that, and the jobs and benefits associated with it.
“Greenpeace will continue to take action to protect the environment, prevent pollution, and protect our precious natural heritage from the ravages of climate change and greed,” Dr Selvey said.