Victoria Police have withdrawn charges made against climate protest organiser Damien Lawson only days before they were due to go to trial on Friday 23rd July.
The charges were laid after Mr Lawson, Coordinator of the Victorian Climate Action Centre, was arrested during an Earth Hour protest at the controversial Hazelwood power station.
One of Australia's most eminent climate scientists Professor David Karoly was intending to give evidence at the trial outlining the harm caused by the power station.
Hazelwood power station is the most polluting coal fired power station in the country and has been the subject of a widespread community campaign calling for its replacement with clean energy.
The State government has said it would like to close a quarter of the power station's operations.
“The decision by Victoria police to drop these charges is a vindication of our campaign to replace all of Hazelwood with clean energy”, Mr Lawson said.
“It also reflects the widespread community support for action on climate change and the importance of community protest in our democracy.”
“The dropping of the charges is also a reprieve for International Power and the state government because Hazelwood would have been on trial as much as me.”
“We intended to put Hazelwood in the dock, with evidence from one of Australia's top climate scientists showing the harm coal power is causing to the climate.”
“With an election looming, our campaign to close Hazelwood will now continue on the streets of inner Melbourne as we urge residents to vote for the climate.”
Mr Lawson was legally represented by Brian Walters SC and Andrew Palmer, Barrister and Associate Professor of Law, University of Melbourne.
Video of protest : http://www.climateactioncentre.org/hazelwoodchargesdropped
