Anti mining activist allegedly assaulted Qld coal worker under ‘tribal law’

An environmental protestor was recently accused of physically attacking a mine employee in Central Queensland’s Isaac region.

Coedie McAvoy allegedly intercepted and forced Bravus Mining and Resources employees to stop their light vehicle near the Carmichael Coal Mine, 160km northwest of Clermont.

Video footage shows McAvoy dismount his motorbike and walk towards the light vehicle. He orders workers to exit the cabin on 27 February 2023.

“Get out of the car, who are you, who are you? Come on get out of the car,” he said.

The man can be seen putting his hands on an indigenous environmental ranger’s uniform. When the employee removes them, the activist warns him to stop resisting or else there will be “tribal law” consequences.

“Get your f–king hands off me now. Get your f–king hands. Hey, do not interfere with this,” another protestor can be heard saying.

When McAvoy puts his hands on the uniform again, the ranger reminds the activist he has already physically “grabbed” and “assaulted” him.

However, McAvoy insists the employee is on his “country” and only releases his grip after being told a third time that he is still touching the worker.

“Okay I am not going to touch him, okay move back.”

The altercation occurred just weeks after the same individual allegedly threatened to “punish” Bravus (formerly known as Adani Mining) staff members who enter his self-proclaimed territory on February 10.

“If you think that you can come into my backyard with the protection of a stupid-arse Adani security [guard] you are sorely mistaken,” he said in an earlier video.

“You will not be f–king walking out of here and the police will be standing out the front and I will say to them, ‘Have the f–cking ambulance ready’ … [and] these people who come here – they will get hurt.”

The employer claimed the man has occupied parts of the mining lease for more than 18 months. When the incident and alleged threats were reported to the Queensland Police Service, officers still had not taken action at the time of publication.

The matter has since been escalated to State Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister Craig Crawford.

“[Employees] should not be left vulnerable to harassment, intimidation or violence from the likes of Mr McAvoy simply because he has a large social media following and they do not,” a Bravus spokesperson said in a public statement.