The Katherine Local Court today dismissed charges against a long-term resident caught up in a dispute with Katherine MLA Sandra Nelson. 

Bruce Francais was first issued with a trespass notice by Ms Nelson late last year following a heated discussion in her Katherine Terrace electorate office. 

Shortly after the notice was issued, Mr Francais attended a public climate change meeting at the electorate office he was barred from, breaching his ban.

Today’s charges were brought against Mr Francais by NT police for breaching the order, not by Ms Nelson.

It was the police today who applied for the charge to be withdrawn.

He was first asked to appear at Katherine Local Court on November 27. 

The matter was adjourned twice before being dismissed by Judge Austin today after a very short hearing. 

“I have to say I am very relieved, it has been a stressful couple of months waiting to see what would happen to me,” Mr Francais said. 

“It was a complete waste of time and the notice shouldn’t have been issued in the first place.

“I wasn’t disruptive at the climate change forum and I cooperated with the police when they asked me to leave,” he said. 

Mr Francais said he believed he had the right to express his views on climate change at the public meeting regardless of where it was held. 

“It was silly to invite members of the public to a climate change forum and then have one of them evicted,” Mr Francais said. 

“It would have been embarrassing for the government itself because it would have focused attention on the controversial issue of fracking, so it’s a good thing it was thrown out today. 

“Common sense prevailed,” he said. 

The trespass notice sought by Ms Nelson against Mr Francais, remains in force.

A comment on the dismissal of the charge has been sought from Ms Nelson.

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