Adani mine protesters get fines slashed   

A Queensland court has reduced the fines of nine protesters who locked themselves to equipment at the Adani Abbot Point coal terminal.

February 27, 2019  News.com.au

A group of nine protesters who twice shut down the Adani Abbot Point terminal by locking themselves onto a coal loading machine have successfully fought to have their fines cut.

The men and women - aged between 19 and 71 - were each fined $8000 in Bowen Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to trespassing and interfering with the ports operation in January 2018.

During the sentencing hearing the court was told members of the group entered the port facility on two occasions, each time scaling and locking themselves to the coal loading trestle.

The plant was shut down to prevent injury to the protesters.

Police had to cut some of them from the structure, while others released themselves.

The court heard the disruption cost the terminal users almost $7.5 million.

The group later told the court they carried out the protests because they had "grave concerns" for the impact the proposed Adani Carmichael coal mine would have on the region and the environment.

The protesters appealed their sentences, arguing the sentencing magistrate had not been given adequate evidence about their capacities to pay the fines.

In a written judgment published this week, the District Court in Townsville reiterated that the offences were "serious and dangerous", but took into account the limited financial means of some of the protesters.   

The court reduced all the fines to $3000 or less.

"I didn't know I was doing wrong. It is so unfair to be fined at all. let alone that amount".