Activists involved in a stench bomb ploy that caused more than 1,000 Woodside Energy workers to evacuate their office have avoided jail, with two receiving suspended sentences.
The District Court of Western Australia Judge Hayley Cormann today handed Kristen Morrissey (51) and Joana Partyka (40) suspended prison sentences and Emil Davey (23) community service.
The trio has previously pleaded guilty over charges of creating a false belief apprehension as to the existence of threats or danger, over an incident at Woodside Energy’s headquarters in June 2023.
Made from non-toxic and non-flammable gas, the cannister released at the protest was intended to cause disruption without harm and resulted in more than 1,000 people being evacuated from the Mount Street office, the court was told.
In court, Judge Cormann said the events following the evacuation were one of mayhem with emergency response teams descending on the scene to investigate and mitigate any dangers with the stench lingering for several hours.
The protest was a part of an escalating campaign by Disrupt Burrup Hub in opposition of Woodside’s expansion of its North West Shelf project in the Burrup peninsula.
The court was told statements given to police by those affected included anxiety around the situation and the concern they had about a potential gas leak.
Several workers experienced ill effects and symptoms from the gas leak, including breathing disarray, chest pains, dizziness, headaches, and nausea, Judge Cormann told the court.
Judge Cormann said Mr Davey, Ms Morrissey and Ms Partyka had a history of offending over climate-related protests.
A video recorded after the event had one of the protesters say “it went exactly as we planned”, the court was told.
Speaking to the court, Judge Cormann said the trio’s primary mitigating factor was pleading guilty at the earliest stage of the proceedings which imposed a 25 per cent reduction to their sentences.
However, Judge Cormann was scathing in her remarks to the accused activists, particularly over the danger to public safety.
“Each of you was prepared to play a part to see [the plan] come to fruition,” she said in court.
“None of you intended any person would suffer ill effects to the gas.
“[But] each of you clearly intended to create alarm… to people that there is a gas leak.”
Speaking to the court, Judge Cormann said the trio’s actions were harmful and excessive.
“I am not satisfied…that any one of you is remorseful,” she said.
“The desire to impose and protect the community, however done in an unlawful manner… can’t be done without regard to human safety.”
Judge Cormann today sentenced Ms Morrissey to 11 months imprisonment and Ms Partyka to seven months.
However, Judge Cormann told the court their sentences would be suspended, with 18 months for Ms Morrissey and 12 months for Ms Partyka.
In court, Judge Cormann sentenced Mr Davey to 50 hours of unpaid community service over six months.
Judge Cormann’s sentencing of the trio is the latest in recent legal proceedings between environmental activists and Woodside.
In early June, the District Court of WA sentenced Jesse Noakes, Gerard Mazza and Tahlia Stolarski over a similar gas leak plan at Woodside’s AGM, which was held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre in April 2023.
Mr Noakes, Mr Mazza and Ms Stolarski were penalised with a $10,000 fine each.
Earlier this year, Mr Noakes, Mr Mazza, Mr Davey, and Matilda Lane-Rose were fined over charges of trespass and attempted damage to Woodside boss Meg O’Neill’s home in City Beach.
