The Bendigo Three: The Defence of Duress for Nonviolent Climate Activism

On 31 March 2023, the ‘Bendigo Three’were arrested for trespass when they occupied Bendigo’s National Australia (NAB) bank during a wave of protest action at more than 60 NAB branches nationwide to ‘Move Beyond Coal’. The ‘Bendigo Three’ - Bernard Tonkin, a carpenter and counsellor working with men involved in domestic violence; Laura Levetan, retired lecturer in carbon economics and senior corporate strategy advisor; and Dean Bridgfoot, a veterinarian - were part of a group of Central Victorian citizens who entered the Bendigo NAB branch asking to talk to a bank manager about their climate concerns. They also intended to show a film highlighting NAB’s ‘greenwashing’while funding coal projects with billions of dollars. They handed out popcorn to customers. When their request to speak to the senior bank management was declined, the Bendigo Three refused to leave the bank. They were arrested and charged with trespass. Four months later NAB withdrew its planned financing of Whitehaven Coal.