18 hours ago
Environmentalist Mark Graham barred from Forestry Corp offices after protest
A prominent ecologist who allegedly breached bail by attending a protest at NSW Forestry Corporation offices and allegedly injuring a police officer has been ordered to stay at least 500 metres away from the state-owned logging service.
Mark Stewart Graham was arrested in June after he attended and filmed an environmental protest at the Forestry Corporation offices in Coffs Harbour.
Police allege he attempted to avoid arrest and struck a police officer on the foot.
He was later released on bail.
Mr Graham was arrested again on July 9 after he allegedly sent a message to the mother of Coffs Harbour Mayor Nikki Williams on July 8, saying that the mayor had "earned a place in hell".
The 49-year-old was denied bail at Coffs Harbour Local Court earlier this month on charges of intimidation, contravening an AVO, and hindering police.
On Wednesday, he appeared before the NSW Supreme Court via video link, where he again sought bail release.
Justice Richard Weinstein granted bail on the condition that Mr Graham not travel within half a kilometre of the Forestry Corporation offices.
Justice Weinstein remarked that a Forestry Corporation vehicle was akin to "a red flag to a bull" for the defendant.
"We want to prevent the volatility."
Mr Graham is a prominent local environmentalist and campaigner who has previously featured in ABC documentaries, including Australia's Wild Odyssey.
He also served as a one-term councillor on the City of Coffs Harbour Council in 2008.
In opposing his bail, the DPP argued the defendant posed an "unacceptable risk to workers and the community".
But Justice Weinstein said that by not granting bail, it was possible that Mr Graham could spend nine months in custody, which would likely exceed the non-parole period for the offences he was charged with.
Affidavits and letters of support for Mr Graham were tendered to the court, including from the CEO of the Bob Brown Foundation, Steven Chaffer.
Justice Weinstein said that these significant community ties and his relatively recent criminal history had to be weighed against his risk in what he described as an "unusual little case".
"Mr Graham is a perfectly respectable citizen until about 2022 or thereabouts, perfectly law-abiding, and then on one view, he goes a little bit off the rails after that," Mr Weinstein said.
As part of his bail conditions, Mr Graham will have to report daily to Coffs Harbour police station, is subject to a curfew, and must not use or possess any encrypted device or approach any prosecution witnesses.
Mr Graham will return to Coffs Harbour Local Court on September 17.
