A Western Australian police officer pulled a gun on a climate activist a day before the man was charged over a controversial protest at the home of Woodside Energy's chief.
Disrupt Burrup Hub, a group opposed to Woodside activities on the remote Burrup Peninsula, said the incident occurred on July 31 when police stopped the activist's car for a search without a warrant or grounds for suspicion.
A day later, counter-terrorism police arrested several people at a protest at Woodside boss Meg O’Neill's Perth residence, which sparked controversy after it was filmed by an ABC TV crew.
Disrupt Burrup Hub on Friday said an unmarked police car earlier stopped the vehicle of a 21-year-old campaigner and an officer drew his service weapon and levelled it at the activist sitting inside.
Police searched the car and questioned the campaigner but released him after finding no evidence, the group said.
The man was one of four people charged in relation to the Woodside protest, a Disrupt Burrup Hub spokesman told AAP.
WA Police said the officer became suspicious of a vehicle and conducted a vehicle stop when the officer "identified a perceived threat and briefly drew his firearm".
"The firearm was holstered as soon as the situation was assessed and no further threat was identified," a police spokesperson said.
Premier Roger Cook previously said he doubted activists would have targeted the property if the ABC crew was not present.
He wrote to the broadcaster's chair Ita Buttrose to complain about the incident.
Woodside has alleged that activists "crossed the line" in the action, while protesters have accused police of unfairly targeting their homes and protecting company interests.
Woodside's massive Scarborough and Pluto Train 2 LNG projects in WA are on track to deliver LNG in 2026, according to ratings agency S&P Global.
