President of the Lock the Gate Alliance, Drew Hutton, will be appearing in the Chinchilla Magistrate’s Court this Thursday charged with obstructing a coal seam gas company ‘without reasonable excuse’.
Mr Hutton was arrested in March this year during a blockade of the coal seam gas company, QGC, at the Tara residential estate in south-west Queensland. He was there at the invitation of the landowner who was in dispute with the company over the terms of his access agreement with QGC.
Mr Hutton will be arguing he had a ‘reasonable excuse’ for obstructing the company. It will be the first time this legislation has been tested in court and, if his case is upheld, could provide a precedent establishing the right of all landholders to stop coal seam gas companies coming on to their properties. Many farmers from across the region are expected to attend.
Drew Hutton spoke to Tim Brunero about the Alliance, what it means for Australian farmers and whether or not he’ll be going to jail.
