On Friday, a number of  protestors in the Leard State Forest climbed onto moving machinery, including a bulldozer and excavator, where a man and woman attached themselves to the machinery using ‘lock on’ devices.

Barwon Local Area Commander, Superintendent Gelina Talbot, said there were great concerns when the woman positioned herself under the bulldozer blade that was lowering.

“I was shocked to learn this woman had placed her head under the bulldozer blade. This was reckless and foolhardy action which put her safety and the safety of rescuers at significant risk.

“Due to these concerns, SES and NSW Ambulance were called to the scene to help remove the woman and provide emergency medical assistance; however prior to their arrival, police and mine staff were forced to cut her from the earthmoving equipment so she was not seriously injured.”

The woman was arrested and taken to Narrabri Police Station where she was charged with ‘Hinder working of mining equipment’. The other male was also arrested and charged with similar offences.

“This is just one example of the reckless and high-risk behaviour being demonstrated by some people protesting at this site. I am greatly concerned that people are engaging in activities which could potentially harm themselves, and – as a consequence – those tasked with rescuing them,” Supt Talbot said.

Also on Friday, six people were found suspended in trees within an area of the Leard State Forest marked to be cleared for mining activity. All six people were removed and arrested by police. They were charged with numerous offences.

“NSW Police Force recognises the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their rights of free speech and peaceful assembly when done in compliance with the law,”Supt Talbot said.

“Equally, the Force recognises the rights of the broader community and organisations to engage in their daily activities within minimal disruption and in a safe and secure environment.

“A few people at this site, including the protest organisers are choosing to make reckless and high-risk choices which endanger the safety of people. As such I am genuinely concerned about the potential consequences.

“This reckless and dangerous behaviour cannot be allowed to continue. Public safety is paramount and unfortunately to ensure public safety, local and specialist police resources will need to be diverted from other communities,” Supt Talbot said.

Whitehaven Coal too has serious safety concerns,  after the female protestor placed her neck under the unsupported, five tonne, blade of a bulldozer. 

“This may seem a noble act of defiance to the people that helped arrange the stunt, but it’s actually just an act of colossal stupidity which could have easily resulted in someone getting killed,” the company said.

“She was sitting underneath a raised blade from a bulldozer. If that came down, she would have been killed,” General Manager of Investor Relations for Whitehaven Coal, Ian McAleese added.

“It’s a safety issue for our people and the protestors as well.

“There’s big pieces of machinery moving around here and if something goes wrong, they’ll come off second best,” he said.

The concerns come following reports in the Sydney Morning Herald this week, which alleges that former soldiers and intelligence operatives have been sent to infiltrate the network of anti-coal protestors in the Leard State Forest which are protesting the Maules Creek and Boggabri Coal expansion projects. 

Several of them were uncovered by activists.

Fairfax reports that the spies-for-hire, using false identities, attempted to penetrate the inner sanctum of the group of environmentalists and local landholders against the mining plans.

It reported that the Centre for Intelligence and Risk Management (CIRM) handled the infiltration, in which former military and intelligence officers pretended they were anti-coal activists, sending field reports back to CIRM about what they saw and heard.

Fairfax  reports it has since emerged that CIRM was working for C5 Management Solutions, a Canberra-based security consultancy that oversaw the hiring of the private intelligence operatives.

Idemitsu Australia Resources CEO, Rod Bridges said in a statement: “Idemitsu has contracted Strongs Security and C5 Management Solutions to provide security services and advice. Both contracts require that these firms will carry out their services pursuant to the law and all applicable regulations”.

“Idemitsu has contracted security firms because the actions of activists have become increasingly aggressive and dangerous. In addition to unlawful entry to the mine site, activists have damaged safety fences and signs, and vandalised property. 

“Last week an unidentified vehicle rammed a security car and caused other damage to property. This occurred at night and endangered the lives of our staff and contractors. 

“These people have a right to their viewpoint. They do not have a right to break the law and put personal safety at risk for the sake of publicity and to interrupt a legitimate business. 

“We must safeguard our people and our business as a statutorily responsible entity from these people who act as if they are above the law.”

Whitehaven Coal, which is also the target of protest action in the Leard forest said it had no knowledge of the alleged “spies” in the camp. 

It said its security contractor is Verifact which is “contracted to ensure compliance with our workplace health and safety obligations around the safety of our site and people, and the security of our assets. They were selected after a tender process”.