A high-stakes legal clash between energy giant Woodside Energy and three convicted climate activists is set to resume next week in Western Australia’s Supreme Court, as the company pushes to force the protesters to disclose the identities of other co-conspirators behind a disruptive 2023 protest that forced the evacuation of thousands of staff.
The incident at the center of the dispute dates back to 2023, when three environmental activists affiliated with the Disrupt Burrup Hub campaign carried out a deliberate stunt inside Woodside’s Perth headquarters. Activist Kristen Morrissey deployed a foul-smelling “stench bomb” in the building’s main lobby, with logistical support from co-activists Joana Partyka and Emil Davey. The action was deliberately designed to be mistaken for a toxic gas leak, triggering a full evacuation that displaced roughly 2,000 employees from the site.
The protest was organized to draw public attention to Woodside’s controversial Burrup Hub gas expansion project. Activists argue the project poses severe threats to both the global climate and sacred Aboriginal cultural heritage sites located in the project area. Last year, all three activists pleaded guilty to criminal charges in the WA District Court. Morrissey and Partyka received suspended prison sentences, while Davey was ordered to complete a community-based sentence.
Months before the criminal case concluded, Woodside first issued a demand to the activists: hand over internal documentation that would reveal the identities of other people involved in planning and executing the 2023 stunt, or face civil litigation. When the activists refused to comply while criminal proceedings were still ongoing, Woodside followed through on its threat and filed a civil suit against the trio in the WA Supreme Court five months after the initial warning.
When the case returns to court on July 16, Woodside’s legal team is widely expected to formally ask the Supreme Court to compel the three protesters to disclose the names of other collaborators. In its court filings, Woodside argues that the stunt caused measurable financial harm, including costs for cleaning services, lost workplace productivity, and other damages, and that the company has legal grounds to pursue claims against all responsible parties.
But activists and their legal representatives have framed the legal action as a blatant campaign of intimidation against climate campaigners speaking out against the company’s fossil fuel expansion. “This is a blatant attempt by Woodside to threaten, intimidate and silence young campaigners sounding the alarm about their gas expansion,” Davey said in a statement ahead of the hearing. Represented by the advocacy group Climate Defenders Australia, Davey added that the Burrup Hub project destroys both sacred Aboriginal cultural sites and contributes to planetary damage for future generations, and that the campaign has successfully held the company accountable for its actions.
“Every Australian now understands that the gas industry is ripping us all off and refusing to pay its fair share,” Davey said.
Partyka echoed Davey’s criticism, describing the legal action as a calculated attempt to bully peaceful citizens challenging a multi-billion dollar corporation. Instead of discouraging her activism, Partyka said Woodside’s legal push only confirms how effective the campaign has been at disrupting the company’s plans.
“Far from cowing me, Woodside’s legal move serves only to confirm the significant impact of our campaign. Woodside is trying to prevent people from doing this again, because it was so successful,” Partyka said. “Woodside may have endless resources at their disposal to pursue legal action against me, but they sure as hell don’t have history on their side.”
The upcoming court hearing will mark the next major step in a conflict that has become a flashpoint for tensions between fossil fuel developers and climate campaigners opposing new fossil gas projects in Australia.