Latest news with #WASupremeCourt
Perth Now
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Controversial vegan activist's strange plea
A controversial vegan activist who filed for bankruptcy after a court found she had defamed a Perth vet is attempting to raise money to leave Australia for 'the world's biggest vegan camp out' in the United Kingdom. Tash Peterson and boyfriend Jack Higgs had their passports confiscated when they filed for bankruptcy in May, after WA Supreme Court Chief Justice Peter Quinlan ordered they pay $280,000 in damages. Justice Quinlan found the pair had published defamatory claims that a Bicton vet was 'eating her own patients', with Ms Peterson claiming the court battled meant her 'personal accounts have been wiped'. The pair returned to social media on Friday to urge their supporters to donate to a GoFundMe campaign to help them acquire $30,000 demanded by their bankruptcy trustees 'because they're concerned we are going to flee Australia for good'. 'Because of this, we are trying to raise funds so that I can give my speech at the Vegan Camp Out,' Peterson said in a video. 'The only purpose of our trip is to speak up for non-human animals. Not to run away. 'We only have one week to raise the $30,000'. The pair said the funds, which will contribute to a bond, will be returned to them when they return to Australia and forfeit their passports once again, and will then go to the animal NGO, Farm Transparency Project. Ms Peterson is listed as a speaker for the vegan Camp Out, a four-day festival at Bygrave Woods in Hertfordshire which includes talks from vegan activists such as Paul McCartney's ex-wife, Heather Mills. Ms Peterson is most well-known for protests staged outside restaurants and agricultural shows. Facebook Credit: News Corp Australia The GoFundMe campaign is being run by Ms Peterson's mother, Sally, and as of Saturday morning had raised more than $2000 to a target of $5500, with donations ranging from $20 to as large as $300. The festival website describes Ms Peterson as a WA-based animal activist 'known for her bold and attention-grabbing approach' with a 'controversial style which often includes civil disobedience'. Ms Peterson is most well-known for protests staged outside restaurants and agricultural shows, and according to her own social media have resulted in 30 police move-on orders, three restraining orders, and 17 convictions.
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Vegan activist Tash Peterson fights to attend UK festival in face of bankruptcy woes
Controversial vegan activist Tash Peterson is attempting to fundraise the money needed to leave Australia and attend 'the world's biggest vegan camp out' in the UK after she was forced to file for bankruptcy following a failed defamation fight involving a Perth vet last year. The activist and her boyfriend Jack Higgs also had their passports confiscated when they filed for bankruptcy, after WA Supreme Court Chief Justice Peter Quinlan last year ordered the pair to pay $280,000 in damages. Peterson and Higgs had accused a Bicton vet of 'eating her own patients', and were ultimately unsuccessful in the resulting court battle, with Quinlan having found the pair published defamatory claims. In the aftermath, Peterson took to social media to state she was bankrupt after being forced to hand over half a million dollars in legal costs and the defamation payout, and stated that 'personal accounts have been wiped, which means we have no money for everyday living expenses'. But Peterson has since been added to a line-up of international speakers, including Paul McCartney's ex-wife Heather Mills, at a British vegan event that kicks off on August 29. On Thursday, a GoFundMe was launched to help get her there and claims Peterson has to hand over $30,000 to the bankruptcy trustee to leave the country. It has so far yielded no support. 'The Trustee is requesting a $30,000 bond to allow them to travel to the UK Vegan Camp Out,' the GoFundMe page states.
The Age
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
Vegan activist Tash Peterson fights to attend UK festival in face of bankruptcy woes
Controversial vegan activist Tash Peterson is attempting to fundraise the money needed to leave Australia and attend 'the world's biggest vegan camp out' in the UK after she was forced to file for bankruptcy following a failed defamation fight involving a Perth vet last year. The activist and her boyfriend Jack Higgs also had their passports confiscated when they filed for bankruptcy, after WA Supreme Court Chief Justice Peter Quinlan last year ordered the pair to pay $280,000 in damages. Peterson and Higgs had accused a Bicton vet of 'eating her own patients', and were ultimately unsuccessful in the resulting court battle, with Quinlan having found the pair published defamatory claims. In the aftermath, Peterson took to social media to state she was bankrupt after being forced to hand over half a million dollars in legal costs and the defamation payout, and stated that 'personal accounts have been wiped, which means we have no money for everyday living expenses'. But Peterson has since been added to a line-up of international speakers, including Paul McCartney's ex-wife Heather Mills, at a British vegan event that kicks off on August 29. On Thursday, a GoFundMe was launched to help get her there and claims Peterson has to hand over $30,000 to the bankruptcy trustee to leave the country. It has so far yielded no support. 'The Trustee is requesting a $30,000 bond to allow them to travel to the UK Vegan Camp Out,' the GoFundMe page states.
West Australian
16-07-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Aboriginal Heritage Act to be put to test in WA Supreme Court in Toodyay landholder appeal
Aboriginal Heritage Act to be put to test in WA Supreme Court in Toodyay landholder appeal
Courier-Mail
03-07-2025
- Courier-Mail
Reagan Chown: Man who mowed down, killed Perth cop Anthony Woods jailed for 13.5 years
Don't miss out on the headlines from WA News. Followed categories will be added to My News. The family of a Perth cop killed in the line of duty when he tried to stop a car thief, before being dragged under the vehicle, have revealed their heartbreak at his future being 'taken away'. Reagan Chown, 25, was sentenced in the WA Supreme Court on Thursday to 15.5 years' jail for the manslaughter of Constable Anthony Woods in June 2023. He will be eligible for parole after serving 13.5 years behind bars. Chown was behind the wheel of a stolen Holden Cruze when he reversed and dragged Constable Woods, 28, under the vehicle. Reagan Chown has been jailed for more than 15 years for the manslaughter of Perth cop Anthony Woods in 2023. Picture: 9News Chown had pleaded not guilty to a charge of manslaughter but was found guilty by a jury earlier this year. The court was told Chown was on bail for possession of cocaine, meth and drug dealing when he killed Constable Woods. He was driving a stolen car with stolen plates that were detected by number plate recognition cameras shortly before Constable Woods was killed. Police pursued the stolen vehicle, which had reached speeds of up to 83kmh in a 40km zone, before it stopped in a cul-de-sac in the Perth suburb of Ascot. Constable Woods tried to arrest Chown and tasered him, but the 25-year-old put his car in reverse and hit the accelerator, dragging, trapping the officer under the car. Constable Woods died from his injuries in hospital. On Thursday, Constable Woods' mother Natalie read a victim impact statement to the court before Chown was sentenced. Ms Woods said her heart was ripped away on the day Anthony died and she felt like she had 'died'. 'He was doing his duty and he was protecting his community and his future was taken away,' she said. 'Each anniversary, birthday and any moment we shared with him is now painful for us.' Constable Woods (left, with his wife Emily) died after he was dragged under a stolen vehicle being driven by Chown. Picture: Supplied Justice Joseph McGrath said during sentencing that Chown deliberately put his car into reverse and moved it backwards by putting his foot on the accelerator. He said Chown was criminally negligent for the circumstances, rejecting his defence that being tasered made him not criminally responsible for Constable Woods' death. 'Police were still pursuing you to charge you with reckless driving, and you were driving a stolen vehicle,' Justice McGrath said. 'The police had every reason to form a belief that you intended to flee. 'You had reached the end of the road. 'That you are not criminally negligent is unacceptable.' Justice McGrath said he was satisfied Chown intended to flee from police and he ignored officers when he put his car into reverse and his foot on the accelerator. Constable Woods was attempting to stop Chown in the stolen car when he was killed in the line of duty. Picture: WA Police 'You decided to get away and tried to escape,' he said. 'The movement of the car was done by you. 'It would be fanciful to make a finding that Constable Woods somehow did wrong here, officers make split second decisions, (you) was speeding through Epsom Ave high on meth when officers intervened. 'This does not come close to some unauthorised discharge.' Chown argued he had no control over his actions when his car moved into reverse after being tasered, but Justice McGrath rejected his explanation saying he was not a reliable or credible witness. Justice McGrath described Reagan Chown's testament as 'fanciful.' Justice McGrath said CCTV footage and police body worn cameras showed a different picture and described Chown's testament as 'fanciful'. 'You maintained the action was involuntary and you pressed the accelerator when tasered,' he said. 'You said the car reversed when you were tasered, and it was an accident. 'I do not accept your alternative explanation and find you deliberately put the car into reverse and hit the accelerator. 'You did those acts because you were intent on fleeing from police. 'You killed a police officer acting in the course of his duty.' Police commissioner Col Blanch Commissioner Blanch said he would ask the government for tougher laws to deal with criminals who behave criminally, evade police and kill a police officer. Picture: NewsWire/ Emma Kirk Police commissioner Col Blanch said outside of court that Justice McGrath's words during sentencing were important and no sentence handed down by a court would ever be enough. 'Anthony Woods was killed serving his community by a drug dealer in a stolen car while on bail,' he said. 'While most of us were sleeping comfortable in our beds Anthony Woods never came home.' Commissioner Blanch said he would ask the government for tougher laws to deal with criminals who behave criminally, evade police and kill a police officer. 'I think murder should stand in these cases,' he said. Chown's defence lawyer told the court his client had become addicted to drugs working as a FIFO worker. He said it was a combination of being away from his family, who lived regionally, having too much time off work in-between his shifts and his drug addiction – for which Chown said he was 'disgusted'. Originally published as 'Future taken away': Family of slain cop Anthony Woods reveal heartbreak as man jailed for manslaughter
