An activist accused of forcing the evacuation of Woodside's Perth headquarters with stench gas is facing tougher charges alleging she harmed employees who suffered ill effects.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Disrupt Burrup Hub campaigner Kristen Morrissey faced Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with creating a false apprehension as to the existence of threats or danger.
The 49-year-old is accused of releasing a non-toxic stench gas called ethyl mercaptan in the lobby area of the oil and gas company's building on June 1, forcing more than 2000 employees to leave the building.
A police bomb response unit and firefighters were called to the scene, with workers unable to return to their desks until later in the day.
Morrissey, who was protesting against Woodside's plans to expand its gas operations on the Burrup Peninsula in Western Australia, was arrested and has been forced to remain at her home unless going to work under her bail conditions.
Magistrate Kevin Taverner was told Morrissey had been summonsed to face court in July on four charges of acts or omissions causing bodily harm or danger.
Defence lawyer Zarah Burgess said the charges related to allegations four Woodside employees suffered symptoms ranging from dizziness and nausea to breathing difficulties which did not require hospitalisation.
A police prosecutor flagged an application for the charges to be dealt with on indictment in the District Court, describing the alleged offences as "a form of terrorism".
"This is a serious matter and we believe it should be dealt with in a higher court," the prosecutor said.
Mr Taverner renewed Morrissey's bail, noting he could only deal with the charge before him.
Morrissey is required to stay away from any property owned by Woodside and not to go within 100m of any protests.
She is prevented from contacting fellow Disrupt Burrup Hub campaigner Joana Partyka, who also faced court in relation to the incident and has been granted bail.
Partyka, 38, has been charged with creating false apprehension and causing bodily harm or danger.
She was "not in attendance near Woodside" during the protest but accused of indirect criminal liability, according to Disrupt Burrup Hub.
In a statement on Tuesday, WA Police alleged some employees had experienced ongoing health issues as a result of the incident.
Police confirmed they had executed four search warrants in Perth on Monday night and seized a number of items for further investigation.
Disrupt Burrup Hub alleges officers seized electronic devices belonging to at least seven people, "demanding passwords and data access from people who were not arrested and with no connection to the (campaign)".
The Burrup Peninsula, located in WA's Pilbara region and known as Murujuga to traditional owners, contains the world's largest and oldest collection of petroglyphs.
Woodside said any acts intended to harm, intimidate or disrupt employees or other community members "should be met with the full force of the law".
"It is misleading for extreme groups to describe their activities as 'harmless'," a spokeswoman said.
"Recent incidents have been unlawful, with deliberate direct impacts on people and risks to community safety, with a range of harmful consequences."
Australian Associated Press
