Two members of the Knitting Nannas against CSG appeared in Casino Local Court yesterday over charges laid during the Doubtful Creek coal seam gas protests earlier this year.
Clare Twomey and Naomi Tarrant were charged with hindering police during a blockade at the protest site.
The pair had acted as ‘simmos’ in the protest, a term coined for people who attach themselves to objects anchored into a road to prevent access.
Ms Twomey had been sitting on a tripod and Ms Tarrant had locked herself to an old car at the protest site.
Charges against Ms Twomey were dismissed after the magistrate agreed with her lawyer’s argument that she had been escorted down by a single police officer.
Ms Tarrant’s charge of hindering was sustained but no conviction was recorded.
Charges against the two women relating to being on State Forest property were dropped.
Of course they got off – any judge that convicted them would be a nitwit.
This is a great boost for the movement, it goes to show that even though our governments have slowly metamorphosed into facism there is still a certain level of independence in the judiciary. It also goes to prove that we have to stand up against governement intimidation and thuggery.
Police officers should now reconsider their allegiance to a government that does not have the support of the community. At all the court appearances on this issue I have them turn red with embarrassment. My advice is to put a complaint to their union about the political game the government is getting them involved in and have a motion to stay clear of mining protests.
Dear Knitting Nannas, thank-you for your dedication and tenacity, power to you, Robyn