A Bega Valley activist and business owner who’s running for council this year, has been convicted and fined in court this week.
Peter Robert Haggar who is running as the Greens Candidate for Bega Valley Council, and Bega Valley Mayor at the Local Government Elections on September 14, was fined $3,000 in Bega Local Court on Tuesday (August 13) for his part in an unauthorised environmental protest on top of a coal train in the Hunter Valley earlier this year.
Mr Haggar was convicted of entering enclosed non-agricultural lands and causing the obstruction of a train.
The Bega cafe owner, took part in a non-violent protest with action group Blockade Australia in Newcastle in June, where he climbed on top of the stationary carriage of a coal train to disrupt operations.
There’s no rule to stop a local resident who has a conviction such as this, from running for council or mayor. Under section 275 of the Local Government Act 1993 in NSW, a person can only be disqualified from standing and acting, if the offence carries a maximum jail term of 5 years or more, which Mr Haggar’s did not.
The 59-year-old told ARN Bega Bay, he would look to appeal the decision that Magistrate Doug Dick handed down in Bega Local Court.
“I was hoping for a ‘no conviction recorded’, so I’m considering options for appeal,” Mr Haggar said.
“I will continue to be involved in climate action in one sort or another,” he continued.
“There are senators sitting in our Federal Parliament who have been convicted of climate protests and those convictions have stood and they still sit as senators in our highest Parliament, so it’s not unheard of.
“I am still running for mayor and for council, and there’s a launch this Saturday for the Greens campaign at Tathra Wharf.”
Greens NSW Senator David Shoebridge will be at the launch alongside other past and present Greens candidates to discuss local issues ranging from housing to climate change.
Mr Haggar said he wants to represent the community while continuing to be invoved in climate action.
“Yes I have been convicted, but I am a small business owner, an employer, parent and my goal on council is to build lines of communication between people and to build our democratic muscle so that we can respond to challenges and opportunities.”
Magistrate, Doug Dick, acknowledged in court that a conviction would impact Mr Haggar’s circumstances, but said “while people are entitled to protest, they’re not entitled to break the law.”
Magistrate Dick handed down a conviction and a $3,000 fine to Mr Haggar for the two charges which carried a maximum penalty of three years in prison and $24,000 in fines.
Images: Peter Haggar, ARN Bega Bay
