ENVIRONMENT

Arrested Carmichael protestor wins more lenient bail conditions

ENVIRONMENTAL activist Ben Winch will be able to get closer to Bravus’ Carmichael coal mine development in Queensland after succeeding in having numerous bail conditions removed in the Queensland Supreme Court on the basis they infringed his civil liberties.

Environmental activist Ben Winch.

Environmental activist Ben Winch.

In October 2020, Winch took part in direct action by attaching himself with a chain to a cattle grid near Carmichael and was placed on bail after being arrested.

Winch recently requested to have his bail conditions amended in the Bowen Magistrates Court, which was denied. It was then taken to the Supreme Court and won.

The bail conditions restricted Winch from being able to visit Camp Binbee and disallowed him from going within 100 metres of any QR Railway or rail infrastructure.

Both of these conditions have now been completely removed.

He is now allowed to return to Camp Binbee, an environmental campaigning hub near Bowen.

Another condition was amended which originally restricted Winch from going within 20km of the  Carmichael mine complex and is now only a 1km radius whilst he is on bail.

The removal of the Camp Binbee condition was based on it being a direct infringement on Winch's civil liberties, and there being no real legal basis to preclude him from going to the property.

The removal of the QR Railway condition was based on it infringing on Winch's liberty to catch public transport, specifically, trains.

"These bail conditions that have been given to activists in this region for years are completely unfair, and I thought it was time to change them," Winch said.

Bravus was approached for comment.

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