02-07-2025
Stench gas activists avoid jail over protest at Woodside's Perth headquarters
Three environmental protesters have avoided going to prison over the release of stench gas that forced the evacuation of Woodside Energy's headquarters in Perth.
The release of the gas caused more than 1,000 people to leave the 29-storey building in West Perth in June 2023, with some complaining of physical reactions.
Kristen Morrissey, Joana Partyka and Emil Davey had all pleaded guilty to creating a false belief, while Morrissey had also admitted to a charge of causing poison to be administered.
Judge Hayley Cormann told the court while the stench gas was not meant to be harmful, it could be "toxic when inhaled in high concentrations".
"Each of you intended to create alarm or concern," Judge Cormann said.
Morrissey had gone into the foyer of the Woodside building and released the stench gas, which is used in the mining industry to alert workers to hazards.
Several of those who left the building complained of reactions such as headaches and sore throats.
Some police officers who attended also suffered headaches and dizziness.
The court had heard that a small number of workers suffered symptoms for several days, including nausea and "blotchy" rashes.
The incident prompted a large response from emergency services, including ChemCentre staff.
Police discovered the stench gas canister in Morrissey's handbag.
The day after the incident, Morrissey inadvertently recorded a conversation with Partyka on her phone.
On the recording, Partyka could be heard saying the action went to plan because the entire building was evacuated, and described it as "one of the more high profile ones that we've done."
While Kristen Morrissey was the one who released the gas, Partyka and Davey were involved in planning and preparation.
The prosecutor had told the court the intention was "to disrupt the activities of Woodside", and was not motivated by animosity towards the workers.
Prosecutor Peter Phillips said there was significant planning, and the action represented a "substantial escalation" in offending by the activists.
People were in "distress" on the day, he said, because they did not know what had occurred.
Judge Cormann accepted the three were motivated to bring attention to the environmental cause they were committed to, but said what they had done represented "forthright defiance of the law".
She said the trio did not regret their actions, and she asserted they could not continue to protest "through unlawful means".
Morrissey, 51, was given an 11-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.
Partyka, 40, was given a seven-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.
Davey, 23, was placed on a community-based order which will include 50 hours of unpaid work.
There was no reaction from the trio as the sentences were read out.
