Gerard Mazza, Jesse Noakes and Tahlia Stolarski: Burrup Hub activists blasted by judge over Woodside AGM stunt

A judge has blasted climate activists who tried to evacuate Woodside’s annual general meeting by setting off a stink bomb and smoke flares, rejecting claims they had “good intentions”. Disrupt Burrup Hub members Jesse Noakes, 36, Gerard Mazza, 33, and Tahlia Stolarksi, 36, were thwarted before they had the chance to stage the protest at Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre in April 2023. They were initially charged with aggravated burglary with intent, which was downgraded to creating a false belief in October, then further downgraded to attempting to create a false belief on Friday. Prosecutor Peter Phillips told the District Court that Mazza was rumbled with the stink bomb during a search of his belongings after he entered a staff-only area near the stage. Mazza claimed he worked for the venue’s IT department, obtaining a jacket and beanie from Noakes in a bid to disguise himself after being ejected from the venue. He was arrested as he re-entered. Stolarski was found in possession of the flares, which she claimed she only planned to let off outside, while the court was told Noakes’ main role was reconnaissance. When Stolarski’s lawyer, Nick Terry, described her as “kind and compassionate”, Judge Craig Astill said all of the defendants appeared to be, but they were “misguided”. “All three have put those good intentions to work in an unlawful way,” the judge said. “All three have got a history of nuisance-type offending.” Judge Astill accused the activists of “trying to drown out” the voices of legitimate AGM attendees. Mr Terry, who also acted for Noakes, insisted their motive was altruistic and the aim was to attract media attention to an issue of public importance. Professor Fiona Stanley provided a character reference for Noakes, writing that she did not feel the offending was out of character. “Almost as if that’s a good thing,” the judge added. WA Greens MP Sophie McNeill gave a reference for Stolarski, saying she had grown tired of legal protests yielding little results. Judge Astill said that was “ironic” given Ms McNeill was part of the institution that made laws. Mr Terry cited the suffragettes as an example of law-breaking protest that was on the right side of history and Ashleigh Watson, acting for Mazza, went even harder. “Many people think this (climate change) is an existential threat,” he said. “I’m glad someone is doing it (protesting).” Judge Astill asked the lawyers if they were arguing the ends justified the means. Were the court to entertain the legitimacy of the message, that would be to “enter into a dangerous game of politicising itself”. He said that if the stunt had forced an evacuation, there could have been “chaos”, asking if the trio had considered an attendee having a heart attack. Judge Astill will hand down their sentences next week. The offence carries a maximum penalty of 12 months’ imprisonment. The plan was among multiple protests by the group targeting Australia’s biggest oil and gas producer in 2023. In January that year, Joana Partyka, who works for the Greens, graffitied a Woodside logo on perspex protecting the Australian masterpiece Down on His Luck by Frederick McCubbin at the Art Gallery of WA. In February, Stolarski spray painted the Woodside logo six times on the front doors of WA Parliament. In June, Kristen Alice Morrissey forced the evacuation of the company’s Perth headquarters by letting off a stink bomb. And in August, Noakes, Mazza and Matilda Lane-Rose arrived at the City Beach home of Woodside boss Meg O’Neill armed with four litres of yellow paint and a bicycle lock. But that was also scuppered, with waiting police charging them along with Emil Davey, who carried out reconnaissance of the premises hours earlier. Excluding Ms Morrissey, who is due to be sentenced next month, the penalties have all been fines.