News Service from Weird House

Qld: Climate protesters charged over Tarong action

BRISBANE, Nov 7 AAP - Two environmental protesters have been charged after spending four-and-a-half hours chained to a conveyor at one of Queensland's largest coal-fired power stations.

A third protester, who unfurled a banner reading "Stopping climate crisis at the coalface" on a pile of coal, was also charged today with trespassing at the Tarong power station in southern Queensland.

The trio triggered an evacuation of the power station around 7.15am (AEST) when they were discovered.

Police removed the pair, who had attached themselves to a coal conveyor, just before noon.

Protest spokeswoman Clare Towler said the action was taken to highlight theneed for faster action by the federal government on cutting greenhouse gasemissions.

"Community-led action like this is not going to go away," Ms Towler said.

"The UN climate talks are coming up in December and that's when the federalgovernment will be releasing emission targets for 2020.

"Well, 2020 is too far away. We want to know what Australia's reduction targets will be for the next year, the year after or in five years time beforeclimate change is irreversible," she said.

Tarong Energy CEO Helen Gluer said the action was irresponsible.

"To have these trespassers show such a blatant disregard for the safety of our employees and themselves is abhorrent," Ms Gluer said.

"Thankfully, there were no injuries to Tarong Energy employees, contractorsor the trespassers."

The protest did not disrupt power supplies.

The three protesters are due to appear in the Kingaroy Magistrates Court onDecember 4.

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