Disrupt Burrup Hub said it was consulting its lawyers in response to Premier Roger Cook’s earlier remarks that protestors’ decision to shout the names of executives’ children at Woodside bosses at its AGM on Wednesday was a “direct threat”.
Cook was angered by the behaviour of the protestors,both aged 17,describing it as despicable intimidation that should be taken seriously by police.
A Disrupt Burrup Hub spokesman said it was consulting lawyers after Cook’s comments.
Disrupt Burrup Hub barrister Zarah Burgess said Cook needed legal advice on what constitutes a “direct threat” while also criticising the government’s youth justice record.
“As to his comments that the young protestors’ behaviour was an ‘exercise in intimidation’ - he might consider the irony of a person in his position directing his state police force to take action against a teenager,” she said.
“One might think that is in fact threatening behaviour,particularly coming from the leader of a government whose record of dealing with young people in the criminal legal system is currently under scrutiny by the courts.”
A WA Police spokesman said no arrests were made at or since the Woodside AGM and declined to respond to questions over whether it was investigating the teenagers’ behaviour.
“In general WA police will treat any threats of violence against a person seriously. Anyone who needs to report to police should do so on 131 444,” he said.