00:00 "Save Leap Point!"
00:04 The same chant, today in a very different place.
00:07 "Save Leap Point!"
00:09 Seven people involved in the May 1 protests at the Leap Point development site, appearing
00:14 in Darwin Local Court.
00:16 Six pleading guilty to trespass.
00:19 All six leaving with no conviction and no financial penalty, although they will be required
00:25 to pay a compulsory $150 victims levy each.
00:28 "Mr Hubber, are you pleased with the result for your clients today?"
00:31 "Yes, it was a good result I think."
00:34 Asked whether they stood by their actions, protester Kate Brodie said at the time she
00:38 felt she had no choice.
00:40 "It was a desperate move, but a final, I guess a culmination of just not being listened to.
00:46 Bringing in bulldozers to just clear felled trees that are centuries old with no concern
00:53 for the animals, for the wildlife, for the birds, for the environment was just horrendous."
00:58 The group's lawyer, Matthew Hubber, told the judge the protests were orderly and respectful,
01:04 emphasising Leap Point is a place of national conservation significance and describing allegations
01:10 against Defence Housing Australia of unlawful land clearing as a disgrace.
01:16 In sentencing, Judge Austin acknowledged each defendant's passion about the Leap Point
01:20 area and accepted the protests were peaceful.
01:24 Work at the site has been paused while allegations against the DHA are investigated.
01:31 Meanwhile this group says they won't give up their fight.
01:37 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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