The Supreme Court of Queensland has issued permanent orders stopping an anti-fossil-fuel activist from seeking or using confidential information related to Adani’s Carmichael coal mines in Australia, bringing an end to a multi-year legal battle between the company and one of its most persistent critics.
According to a statement from Bravus Mining and Resources, the orders require activist Ben Pennings to halt all attempts to obtain confidential business information from Bravus employees, contractors or potential contractors, and also prohibit him from encouraging anyone else to share such information.
Bravus, part of the Adani Group, has agreed not to seek its legal costs after securing permanent court orders against activist Pennings. The company, which operates the Carmichael coal mine in the Galilee Basin and produces about 10 million tonnes of coal annually for export, obtained the orders as part of its civil claim.
The orders further prevent Pennings from seeking or promoting the disclosure of confidential information, including through “direct action” campaigns aimed at encouraging insider leaks. However, they do not limit his ability to engage in lawful protest or advocacy. Bravus had alleged that Pennings, the national spokesperson for the Galilee Blockade group, attempted to disrupt the Carmichael mine’s operations, suppliers and contractors.
Its chief operating officer, Mick Crowe, welcomed the outcome, saying the company’s objective had always been to stop conduct it characterised as harassment and intimidation. “We started this legal action in the Supreme Court to stop Mr Pennings from harassing and intimidating our employees and contractors,” he said. “This damages claim was never never about money. All we wanted was for Mr Pennings to stop trying to get our confidential information and using it to harass and intimidate our contractors and suppliers to pressure them to stop working with us.”
Court evidence shows that Pennings’ campaigns, which included blockades, office incursions, and targeted pressure on suppliers, led several major businesses to sever ties with Bravus, while others were compelled to boost their security. Pennings had also been previously arrested during a protest at Pinkenba, which aimed to disrupt work on the Carmichael mine and rail project.
“The settlement comes after Mr Pennings failed in his bid to have the Supreme Court exempt him from submitting evidence in the lead up to a trial for fear he would incriminate himself,” the statement said.
Ben Pennings, a former Greens campaigner and Brisbane mayoral candidate, has been a key figure in the Galilee Blockade, the Stop Adani movement, and the anti-gas group Generation Alpha. He and his supporters have argued that Bravus’ legal action represents an attack on activism. Bravus, however, said its case concerns specific unlawful conduct rather than political expression, citing claims including inducing breach of contract, the tort of intimidation, conspiracy by unlawful means, and a quia timet injunction to prevent further alleged misconduct.
Bravus noted that both the Carmichael mine and the Carmichael Rail Network have been operating for more than four years and employ thousands of Queenslanders, while asserting that Pennings’ campaigns caused significant disruption during the construction and commissioning phases.
The ruling brings to a close one of Australia’s longest-running legal battles involving environmental activism and a major resources project. The case also underscores the challenges faced by Indian companies operating overseas, particularly in sectors that attract strong activist attention.
Bravus’ Carmichael mine and rail network are among the largest Indian investments in Australia. The company has maintained that its projects adhere to the country’s strictest environmental standards. Bravus has repeatedly noted that its operations have been targeted for years, even as Australia continues to export large volumes of coal to international markets. Public campaigns have largely focused on specific new projects rather than broader export trends, with China remaining the largest buyer of Australian coal, followed by Japan and Korea.
Bravus considers the court outcome a key step in protecting its workers, contractors and lawful operations in Australia. The company emphasises that activism remains welcome, provided it does not cross into unlawful disruption, intimidation or the misuse of confidential information.
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