A court has rejected strict police bail conditions imposed on a former Greens senator arrested during a climate change protest in Sydney.
Scott Ludlam, arrested on Monday during an Extinction Rebellion protest, had been ordered not to go within 2.5 kilometres of Sydney Town Hall or attend further protests by the group after police raised concerns he would “endanger the safety of victims, individuals and the community”.
But deputy chief magistrate Jane Mottley on Thursday threw out the restrictions, saying the concerns “can be appropriately addressed by unconditional bail”.
Unconditional bail only requires an accused person to be of good behaviour.
She said the offences – related to not obeying a direction given by traffic police – carry a maximum fine of $2200.
“These are not serious examples of offences which would ordinarily attract bail conditions,” she said in Downing Centre Local Court.
Mr Ludlam’s bail conditions prevented him from attending the court in Sydney’s CBD while fellow protester Kim Maree Warner, who also had her bail conditions lifted, faced a condition that prevented her from associating with any Extinction Rebellion protesters.
Both planned to plead not guilty to the single charge against them, the court heard.
good. thanks to the pro bono legal crew who took this on at very short notice – this stuff really matters and it’s deeply appreciated 🙏🏼 https://t.co/wb3eWVgfwU
— Scott Ludlam (@Scottludlam) October 9, 2019
Their lawyer Greg James QC said police had taken extraneous considerations into account when imposing the bail conditions.
“Neither of those two matters address bail concerns … it’s sought to stifle legitimate political protest,” he said.
“The road was closed. There was no traffic.”
Outside court, NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge called on police to drop similar conditions on some 30 other protesters charged over Monday’s protests.
Mr Shoebridge said that NSW Police should only impose “reasonable and necessary” bail conditions on protesters in future.
He said it would be embarrassing for them to return and waste court time again only to have the strict conditions thrown out again.
Mr Ludlam earlier this week described his bail conditions as “wild” and said the case would be defended by telling the court “we are like the smoke alarm in a burning building”.
-AAP
The post Scott Ludlam has bail win after climate protest appeared first on The New Daily.
**Business and Marketing support on best price; Hit the link now----> http://bit.ly/2HsQmSi