Tahlia Stolarski: Burrup Hub activist finally pleads guilty over Meg O’Neill’s City Beach home paint stunt

The final climate activist to be dealt with by the courts over a thwarted stunt at the City Beach home of Woodside boss Meg O’Neill has been convicted after a plea deal. Tahlia Stolarski, 37, was accused of being part of a group of Disrupt Burrup Hub members who plotted to vandalise the oil and gas executive’s western suburbs home in August 2023. But police ambushed Gerard Mazza, Matilda Lane-Rose and Jesse Noakes when they arrived, armed with litres of yellow paint and a bicycle lock. The trio planned to splash paint — some of which was contained in balloons — on Ms O’Neill’s front driveway, garage door and brick wall while Lane-Rose would lock herself to a gate. Stolarski and Joana Partyka did not attend Ms O’Neill’s home but were charged, as was Emil Davey for carrying out “reconnaissance” of the property hours earlier. Partyka had her single charge of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence discontinued in the Perth Magistrates Court in August but the same charge remained for Stolarski, who maintained her not guilty plea. On Tuesday, however, she entered guilty pleas to the downgraded charges of attempted unlawful damage and trespass, and was fined $2000. The magistrate was told Stolarski, who works for the Conservation Council, allowed her home to be used for planning and “rehearsals”. “I accept you that you have some deeply held convictions,” he said. “People are still entitled to the sanctity of their home.” Lane-Rose and Davey were previously fined $2000 over the foiled protest while Noakes and and Mazza were slugged $2500.