Woodside Loses Bid to Force Climate Activists to Reveal Protest Details
Justice Matthew Howard dismissed the application, ruling that Woodside's evidence did not rise above "mere conjecture or speculation" and that an order would involve a "very serious invasion of privacy and confidentiality."
The Background
Energy company Woodside has failed in a Supreme Court bid to compel climate activists to hand over documents relating to a stink-bomb protest that forced the evacuation of its Perth headquarters in June 2023.
The incident occurred on June 1, 2023, when a stink bomb was released inside the lobby of Woodside's 29-storey building in Perth's CBD. Three activists have already been sentenced in connection with the protest.
What Woodside Sought
Woodside applied for court orders requiring the activists to:
- Produce documents revealing the identities of others involved in planning and executing the protest
- Submit to examination in court
The company stated it intended to seek financial damages from all involved parties, citing damage to the building and loss of productivity.
The judge noted that Western Australia Police had conducted a "significant investigation" into the matter and that the identities of two other activists who were not charged were already known.
The Court's Ruling
Justice Matthew Howard dismissed the application on multiple grounds:
- Woodside's evidence did not rise above "mere conjecture or speculation"
- Compelling the activists to produce documents would involve "a very serious invasion of privacy and confidentiality"
The judge also expressed concern that Woodside's approach appeared to conflate the stink-bomb incident with the broader activities of the Disrupt Burrup Hub group, potentially discouraging legitimate protests against its projects.