Hinchinbrook protesters face vigilante threats

Issue 

Hinchinbrook protesters face vigilante threats

By Bill Mason

BRISBANE — The Queensland Council for Civil Liberties has called for a police investigation into alleged threats against environmentalists protesting against the Port Hinchinbrook development.

QCCL president Ian Dearden said on September 12 that anonymous threats from a "fisherman" at the nearby north Queensland town of Cardwell amounted to a conspiracy to murder. Dearden called for Port Hinchinbrook resort developer Keith Williams to "pull in the heads of his supporters".

The threats followed a call by Cardwell business owners to "don white hoods" and run protesters out of town if they continue their campaign against the Oyster Point development. The "fisherman" told the Brisbane Courier-Mail that his colleagues were considering throwing berley into the Hinchinbrook Channel to lure crocodiles and sharks to attack seaborne protesters.

On September 9, 100 environmentalists joined a protest at a Townsville shipyard to stop a dredge leaving for Port Hinchinbrook. The action is part of a "Franklin Dam-style" campaign to prevent the dredging of the channel for Williams' mega-resort, which will endanger the nearby World Heritage-listed marine park and its dugong population.

Protesters chained themselves to the dredge, but police and security guards cut the locks and allowed the dredge to sail off. Conservationists have said that dredging the entrance channel was "the line in the sand" from which they would not retreat.

If you like our work, become a supporter

Green Left is a vital social-change project and aims to make all content available online, without paywalls. With no corporate sponsors or advertising, we rely on support and donations from readers like you.

For just $5 per month get the Green Left digital edition in your inbox each week. For $10 per month get the above and the print edition delivered to your door. You can also add a donation to your support by choosing the solidarity option of $20 per month.

Freecall now on 1800 634 206 or follow the support link below to make a secure supporter payment or donation online.