A Queensland activist has been fined for obstructing officials after his legal challenge against a government-funded fire ant eradication program was dismissed by a magistrate. The court rejected his argument that the initiative was unlawful, though no conviction was recorded. The defendant, who leads an opposition group and has described himself through multiple professional roles, had framed his defence using tactics linked to the sovereign citizen movement. Critics may see the case as an example of how fringe legal strategies are increasingly deployed in environmental disputes.
Legal expert compares Trevor Hold’s failed defence to ‘tried and tested argument’ used by sovereign citizen movementGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Queensland leader of a group opposing the eradication of fire ants in Australia has been convicted of obstructing government officers, after a magistrate threw out his argument that the commonwealth-funded program is illegal.Trevor Hold was fined $1,500 but a conviction was not recorded. Hold has described himself as an “ultrapreneur”, a mental health counsellor, an organic cattle farmer and the chief executive officer of the anti-program group the Australian Advocacy Group – and as self-employed. Continue reading...
