Adani launches civil damages claim against protester
A key organiser of protest action against the controversial Adani mine now facing a civil damages action from the company says he will receive pro-bono legal advice to fight the case.
The miner filed the case in the Queensland Supreme Court on Thursday in order to quell what it claims is a "campaign of alleged harassment and intimidation" driven by Ben Pennings, a spokesperson for the Galilee Blockade group and former Greens lord mayoral candidate.
Generation Alpha spokesman Ben Pennings says the group has cancelled its plans for an underwear protest at the G20.
"As part of their 'Attack Dog' legal strategy on #StopAdani, Adani is taking me to the Supreme Court, seeking damages for breach of confidence, intimidation and conspiracy," Mr Pennings said on social media.
"My family and I are OK. I will have access to excellent pro bono legal advice."
In a statement, Adani said it would allege Mr Pennings had been "instrumental" in organising blockades and office occupations of its existing and potential suppliers.
The miner will claim he has caused distress to workers, using intimidation to try to force meetings with executives and livestreaming the images of employees and contractors.
"After almost a decade of this type of intimidation we are saying enough is enough and we are exercising our legal rights to put an end to this obsessive and, in some cases, dangerous behaviour," the statement said.
"This is not about inflicting hardship on Mr Pennings, rather we are protecting our rights to carry out our business and give regional Queenslanders a fair go in terms of jobs and contracting opportunities."
The Carmichael coal mine has become a lightning rod for debate around the future of fossil fuel and protest activity in recent years.
In July, Adani Australia said it hoped to export the first coal from the mine, west of Rockhampton, from 2021.